Rathkeale College - Music

The Music Department is housed in the original Rathkeale Homestead, and we aim to make the most of our fantastic surroundings and facilities.  In the Junior School we have exciting programmes for boys in Year 9, where Music is compulsory and Year 10 where students can opt for the subject for either half the year or the full year.  Over the two years we cover a range of topics including basic music theory, keyboard skills, guitar skills, blues, variations, using ICT to make music (includes Garageband, Sibelius and Logic), music from around the world, jazz and much more.  In addition we aim to prepare all students for the possibility of taking Music further at NCEA Level 1 and beyond, and with this in mind all boys will regularly perform and compose music of their own.
 
The Music Department offers tuition in a range of instrumental disciplines, and we have a dedicated team of specialist itinerant tutors.  We currently offer lessons on piano, bagpipes, violin, guitar, bass guitar, woodwind, brass, drumkit and voice.
 
The cultural life of the school is celebrated regularly at Rathkeale and we have a growing number of music ensembles.  We currently have Sforzando (a jazz / funk group); Capella (a male voice choir); Junior Choir (a male voice choir for Year 9 and 10 boys); Viva Camerata (an elite Choir run in conjunction with St Matthew's Collegiate); Concert Band and Brass Ensemble.  In addition we have a specialist band coach who has helped to set up and rehearse a number of student based bands.