At Hillview, all students take part in compulsory Music classes from Year 1 to 8, with the option to continue in Years 9 and 10 through a specialised half-year programme. This enables students to progressively build their musical skills, confidence, and creativity across a range of instruments and styles. Through performance, composition, and digital music-making, students are encouraged to express themselves, collaborate with others, and develop a lifelong appreciation for music. 

Program Overview:

Year 1-4: 

Year 0-4 Music is about students having fun, while learning the basic foundations of Music. Students learn Music elements of beat, rhythm, pitch, dynamics, tempo, tone, form & style while engaging in experiences of listening, singing, moving, playing and creating. There are a variety of instruments from shakers to bells to tambourines & glockenspiels to name a few, which are used regularly, creating a lot of sound, joy, and practical understanding of Music. Yr 3-4 Students also have the opportunity to play the ukulele, where we focus on notes, chords and playing songs.

Year 5-6:

In Years 5 and 6, we run a robust musical programme, covering a wide variety of topics and aspects of music. The Elements of Music undergirds the content we teach over the two years. We begin each year delving into beat, rhythm and different components of composition. Children learn a variety of aspects in percussion through both Bucket Drumming and Body Percussion. We expand on the Elements of Music further by unpacking melody and harmony. At Year 5, we explore how to hear and write down simple melodies, with a key focus on aural training, incorporating tuned percussion such as xylophones. At Year 6, we expand on these concepts further by developing a foundation of keyboard skills. Various genres are introduced such as classical and the history of rock music, tying into contemporary worship. 

Year 7-8: 

In Years 7 and 8, students build on the foundational skills developed in Years 5 and 6, applying them in more advanced and creative ways. They explore a variety of musical genres in depth, gaining a deeper understanding of different styles, traditions, and cultural contexts. Students also have the opportunity to enhance their practical and theoretical knowledge through performance, composition, and listening activities. Additionally, they utilise their skills in digital music making, engaging with music technology to create and produce their own pieces.   

Year 9-10:

The combined Year 9/10 half-year Music programme runs on an odd- and even-year cycle. In even years, students develop their digital composition skills using GarageBand and engage their critical thinking to understand and explore the impact of contemporary music. In odd years, the focus shifts to expanding basic keyboard and guitar skills, with opportunities to collaborate, compose, and record original pieces. Across both cycles, students continue building on prior learning and are well-prepared for NCEA Music.