FAQ

Helpful Information.

AT WHAT AGE CAN MY CHILD START LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT?

Age & School Year Level for the 2025 year is calculated from 1st February 2025.

4 Years - Kindy Class
Years 0/1/2 - Pre-Instrumental
Year 2 - Keyboard, Violin, Vocals, Recorder, Ukulele
Year 3 - Guitar, Theory, Bucket Drums
Year 4 - Flute, Drums
Year 5 - Clarinet, Trumpet
Year 6 - Cello, Trombone, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar
Year 7 - Saxophone, French Horn

MY CHILD IS FOUR, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST

We suggest our kindy class for 4 year olds. Students must turn 4 by 1st February 2025.

MY CHILD IS IN YEAR 0/1, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?

We highly recommend you start them in our pre-instrumental classes where they learn pitch and rhythm. It’s a fun introduction to music where they learn fundamental skills and most of our students start here.

MY CHILD IS IN YEAR 2, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?

If your child is in Year 2 and has no prior musical learning, we highly recommend doing one year of pre-instrumental class before learning any of the following instruments.

We recommend that children should be in Year 2 at school or above to start learning the following instruments: Keyboard, Violin, Vocals, Recorder, Ukulele.

MY CHILD IS IN YEAR 3, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?

For Guitar, Theory, Bucket Drums we recommended for students be in Year 3 at school or above.

Other suitable instrument for this age group include: Keyboard, Violin, Vocals, Recorder, Ukulele.

MY CHILD IS IN YEAR 4, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?

For Flute, Drums we recommended for students be in Year 4 at school or above.

Other suitable instrument for this age group include: Guitar, Theory, Keyboard, Violin, Vocals, Recorder, Ukulele, Bucket Drums.

MY CHILD IS IN YEAR 5, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?

For Clarinet, Trumpet we recommended for students be in Year 5 at school or above.

Other suitable instrument for this age group include: Flute, Clarinet, Drums, Guitar, Theory, Keyboard, Violin, Vocals, Recorder, Ukulele, Bucket Drums.

MY CHILD IS IN YEAR 6, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?

For Trombone, Cello, Electric Guitar and Bass Guitar we recommended for students be in Year 6 at school.

Electric and Bass Guitar students must have learnt guitar for at least one year previously and be confident, skilled players.

Other suitable instrument classes for this age group include: Trombone, Cello, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Drums, Guitar, Theory, Keyboard, Violin, Vocals, Recorder, Ukulele, Bucket Drums.

MY CHILD IS IN YEAR 7/8, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?

For French Horn and Saxophone we recommended for students be at least in Year 7 at school.

All our other instruments are suitable: Saxophone, French Horn, Trombone, Cello, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Drums, Guitar, Theory, Keyboard, Violin, Vocals, Recorder, Ukulele, Bucket Drums.

MY CHILD IS YEAR 9 OR HIGHER, AT HIGH SCHOOL OR OVER 13 YEARS OLD

We suggest that you look to your high school and enquire there. Alternatively, look for private tuition or other businesses offering tuition for older children.

MY CHILD WANTS TO LEARN PIANO?

We teach keyboard.

WHAT DO YOU HIRE?

We have a range of instruments available for hire for students enrolled in classes - this will be done in February before classes start.
Hire fees are as follows:
$60 incl GST - Guitar
$100 incl GST - Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Violin
$130 incl GST - Cello
$180 incl GST - Saxophone, French Horn

HOW DO WE ENROL?

You can enrol online by filling out the form at the top of the page.

You will receive your invoice within the first week or two of enrolling. Please check that your email address is correct when signing up, and keep an eye on your junk folder in case the invoice is filtered there.
To secure your spot in your chosen class(es), please ensure payment is made promptly by the due date on the invoice (within 2 weeks).
Once payment is received, your child’s place will be secured. If payment is not made by the due date on the invoice (within 2 weeks), the space may be offered to the next student on the waitlist.
A confirmation email will be sent with your child’s enrolled class(es) in mid-late January. Our first day of lessons is 1st February.

WHAT BOOKS DO WE NEED?

Each instrument has a different book requirement that we will let you know about on confirmation of enrolment. We sell all the necessary books and accessories in our music school office on Saturday mornings. We accept payment by eftpos.

HOW MUCH ARE LESSONS?

$200 per year per instrument, inclusive of GST.
If your child is learning more than one instrument, the annual membership is stacked. For example:
- 2 instruments = $200 x 2 = $400
- 3 instruments = $200 x 3 = $600
We also offer beginner Music Theory for $100/year when taken alongside another instrument tuition.

* Annual Membership lasts the school year (February - December)

If you start learning with part way through the school year class the Annual Membership remains the same and is not discounted.

WHEN DO WE PAY?

You will receive your invoice within the first week or two of enrolling. Please check that your email address is correct when signing up, and keep an eye on your junk folder in case the invoice is filtered there.
To secure your spot in your chosen class(es), please ensure payment is made promptly by the due date on the invoice (within 2 weeks).
Once payment is received, your child’s place will be secured. If payment is not made by the due date on the invoice (within 2 weeks), the space may be offered to the next student on the waitlist.

If you have questions please contact the Treasurer via email on treasurer@papakuramusicschool.org.nz

WHEN DO LESSONS START?

Lessons in 2025 will start 1st February.

HOW DO I ENROL IN BAGPIPES?

Contact Papakura Pipe Band Academy directly via email info@papakurapipeband.co.nz

CAN MY CHILD LEARN MORE THAN ONE INSTRUMENT?

Yes. Your child is able to learn up to 4 instruments. Due to timetabling, where multiple instruments are being learned, we may not be able to accommodate all choices.

ARE THERE OTHER GROUPS THAT MY CHILD CAN PLAY IN?

Yes. We have four groups that your child can choose to play in free of charge.

Junior Band (Clarinet, Flute, Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Drums - For first year students)

Senior Band (Clarinet, Flute, Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Drums - For second year and above students)

String Orchestra (Violin and Cello - For second year and above students)

Rock Band (for any instrument second year and above) Students will need to audition if they want to be in the Rock Band.

DO YOU HAVE A MAP OF THE CLASSROOMS?

We are working on it.

WHAT DAYS OF THE WEEK ARE LESSONS ON?

Lessons are only on Saturday mornings between 8am-12pm

COVID-19

If we feel it's unsafe at any of the alert levels we will move to online learning. This could be due to additional information and advice from the government, staffing shortage or illness amongst our families.

HOW CAN I ENROL FOR NEXT YEAR?

Enrolments open mid-December for the following year via our website. An announcement will be made via our Facebook page.

IS THERE A SIBLING DISCOUNT?

Unfortunately, at this time there is not.

FAQ