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St Andrew’s College believes in a holistic education and that co-curricular activity is integral to a young person’s development. The College offers an exceptionally wide range of sporting, recreational, musical and other performance opportunities, ensuring students can discover their potential, explore their interests and strive for excellence in their activity of choice. These activities greatly assist students in building confidence and self-esteem, as well as making constructive use of leisure time. Recent studies indicate that students who get actively involved in a variety of experiences at school are most likely to enjoy success and develop a positive self-image and attitude which translates into success in other aspects of their lives.
Most of the practices for these activities take place either before or after school, and all students are encouraged to participate in at least one activity per season.
Exemptions must be cleared with the Director of Sport and Co-curricular Activities, Mr Mark Lane, and will only be granted on medical grounds, for which a doctor’s letter will be needed. Students may not use a part-time job as an excuse to avoid co-curricular responsibilities.
Students are notified through daily notices and sports notice boards when meetings and trials will take place.
Tutors are available at the College to teach the following:
Fees
Most tutors charge at least $30.00 per half hour lesson for private lessons in the Music Suite studios.
Between 30–33 lessons are taken during the year. If you wish to know the exact scale of fees, please check with the tutor concerned.
To register, please complete the online Instrumental and singing form by visiting:
stac.nz/InstrumentTuition
Handbook: stac.nz/MusicHandbook
Lesson Time Preferences
Tutors try to accommodate all students’ requests. However, please understand that due to studio availability and tutor timetables, they may not be able to give you your first preference. Parents and tutors negotiate directly to find a time that is suitable for the student and tutor.
Absence
It is important that the tutor is advised of any absence by obtaining the tutor’s phone number and leaving
a message.
Tutors reserve the right to charge for lessons where no notification has been given of the student’s absence. Except in the case of illness, communication with the tutor should be no later than 24 hours before the lesson, in order to give tutors the chance to reorganise student times. We do appreciate your support in this matter.
Termination of Lessons
Students are expected to learn for the full year. If the student or parent wishes to finish lessons they must give four weeks’ notice. Otherwise, four weeks’ lessons will be charged in lieu of that notice. If you are unable to reach the tutor by phone, please inform the Head of Music.
Instrument Hire
The College has some instruments available for hire from $75.00 per term. If the College runs out of hire instruments, there are some very good ‘hire-to-buy’ schemes available in Christchurch at Sedley Wells or KBB Music Shop.
Performance Evening
Towards the end of each term there is an opportunity for all students, from beginner to advanced, to perform. Parents provide an ideal first audience and the evening is made as informal as possible, so that the first performance experience is a pleasant one. Any St Andrew’s student can take part, whether learning at the school or from an outside teacher. These are held in the Preparatory School Music Room.
We strongly encourage our students to explore and develop skills and talents in musical performance. The College has an extensive choral and instrumental programme, with many students involved in a variety of groups. Individual tuition in singing and on a range of instruments, including the bagpipes and drums, is provided through the College by independent specialist staff. A request for tuition should be made on the form available from the Music Department.
Students who already play an instrument and who have reached a sufficiently high level of proficiency are given the opportunity to audition for one of the College performance groups. The groups do not have long rehearsal sessions. The timings of the rehearsals vary depending upon the group, but they are usually at lunchtimes or after school to avoid clashing with class time.
For further information please contact Head of Music, Mr Duncan Ferguson, on DFE@stac.school.nz.
St Andrew’s College Pipe Band is an iconic part of St Andrew’s College. Over 140 students from the College are involved with Pipe Band. Learners start on the practice chanter or drum pads before they progress onto the full instruments. The Pipe Band perform at concerts, competitions and other special events. The Band won the 2013 Juvenile World Pipe Band Championship in Glasgow, was runner-up in 2018 World Championships and placed third out of 45 teams in the Juvenile grade in 2023. Students can learn the pipes and drums from the age of eight with tutors at the College. Lesson times are arranged either during school time or other mutually agreed times and are held in the Askin Pipe Band Centre on the College campus. Click here for more information.
Click here to complete the online form and to register as a new student to the pipe band. For further eqnuries, contact our Pipe Band Director, Mr Richard Hawke, by emailing RHA@stac.school.nz.
Tuition is available in Speech and Drama and related subjects. Students may choose to enter either Speech New Zealand or Trinity College examinations and / or competitions, or may simply attend to build confidence, have fun and improve skills in drama, speaking and communication with their peers.
Tuition fees and lesson options:
Individual, pairs and small group lessons are available and typically run for 30–40 minutes. Prices range from $240–$350+GST per student, per term, and a minimum of 30 lessons per year are guaranteed.
Please click here to complete the online application form if you wish for your child to receive Speech and Drama tuition or you may wish to contact the tutor directly.
Co-curricular Activities and EOTC