The Kids Sing

WORKSHOPS

These workshops are part of NZCF’S outreach programme and are funded through a grant from Fehl Charitable Trust. Workshops include:

• singing for teachers to enhance your own musicianship and wellbeing;
• how you can get your students singing, even if you aren't a confident singer yourself;
• tips and tricks for leading school singing and leading choirs.

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Saturday 7^th November
Time: 12pm - 3pm
Venue: Palmerston North Normal Intermediate School

Presenter: Elisha Fa’i-So’oialo

A free Let’s Get Singing workshop for primary and intermediate teachers - If you are keen to introduce or add more singing into your school, NZCF presenter Elisha Fa'i-So'oialo will share songs, activities and resources to help teachers lead school singing and choirs with confidence.

Let’s Get Singing presenter Elisha Fa’i-So’oialo - Elisha has a busy career as a music and singing teacher at Rotorua Boys’ High School. She holds a Master of Music and is an active choral composer, choir director and opera singer. Elisha is Pasifika Advisor for the New Zealand Childrens’ Choral Academy and is one of NZCF’s Mana Pasifika Outreach mentors and a presenter in NZCF’s Let’s Get Singing video series. 

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Friday 13^th November
Time: 12:15 - 2:15pm
Venue: Karoro School in Greymouth

Presenter: Ben Madden

A free Let’s Get Singing event for schools on the West Coast. An afternoon of singing for students and staff during school time! We are grateful to Jenny Barrow from Karoro School in Greymouth for offering her school as the venue.

Let’s Get Singing presenter Ben Madden - Ben is a proudly born-and-bred Dunedin tenor trained by Pat Scally-Richardson and Judy Bellingham. Since finishing vocal study at the University of Otago, Ben has been working as a freelance singer, a choral director and private singing tutor in Dunedin. He is musical director for The Kids Sing in Dunedin and works with the New Zealand Choral Federation as a mentor for primary school singing leaders as part of their ‘Singing Matters’ programme and a presenter in NZCF’s Let’s Get Singing video series.   He works with the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir as a conducting intern, guest vocal tutor and Vocal Consultant. Ben is an alumni of the NZSSC, the New Zealand Youth Choir, and a current member of Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir. 

Ben has selected 3 songs from the Let’s Get Singing video series for schools to sing on 13th November. There are teaching videos with tips for learning the songs, karaoke videos, music and teaching ideas.

1. Nga iwi e.
2. E lanu moana ma olaola.
3. I bought me a cat (This song is presented on the video by Ben!)

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Tuesday 17^th November
Time: 12:30 - 2pm  and  3:30 - 5pm
Venue: TBC in New Plymouth

Presenter: Megan Flint

NZCF is thrilled to be able to offer another Let’s Get Singing workshop for primary and intermediate teachers in New Plymouth.

In addition to a teacher workshop after school, we’d like to offer a massed singing event for children and teachers during school time. We just need a school to host! 

• Let’s Get Singing for children and teachers: 12:30 - 2pm. This interactive session will feature songs from the Let’s Get Singing video series and is an opportunity for several schools to come together for an afternoon of massed singing.
• Let’s Get Singing Teacher Workshop: 3:30 - 5pm. Megan will share songs, activities and resources to help you lead school singing and choirs with confidence.              

Let’s Get Singing presenter Megan Flint - Megan helped to create NZCF’s Let’s Get Singing video series and has a background in both education and music.  Over her career, she has worked as a general classroom teacher and deputy principal, a choral specialist across Years 1-13, a full-time music specialist in the primary sector and an independent music education consultant. Megan has a particular passion for working with treble choirs and is the co-author of Hear Our Voices, a handbook for leaders of children’s choirs.  Megan is a past member of the New Zealand Youth Choir and currently sings with Voices New Zealand.  Megan is a current doctoral candidate in the School of Music at the University of Auckland, exploring music education and generalist primary school teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is also active within Music Education New Zealand Aotearoa (MENZA) and the Association of Choral Directors (ACD) as a board member, and the New Zealand Choral Federation (NZCF) as a singing leader and conducting mentor and as an adjudicator and massed choir director for The Kids Sing. Her commitment to ‘music for all’ guides her passion for music education. Her teaching practice is heavily influenced by the Kodály-inspired music education philosophy. ​​​​​​​