Rotorua Music School provide lessons for a wide range of instruments.
Music classes are held after school, Tuesday-Thursday, in 30 minute sessions. For class timetables please see our Calendar Schedule.
You can now enrol your child for lessons with Rotorua Music School online, just fill out a 2018 enrolment application on our Forms page.
Please feel free to contact us for more information about any of our classes or tutors.
Guitar Tutor:
Jackie Ward
I have had the pleasure of teaching many students how to read music through the medium of guitar. My aim to to inspire children to a life of music in whatever form that may take.
I have been teaching for 15 years here in the Bay of Plenty and love it. I have played in bands and orchestras mainly ukulele and clarinet, trumpet and recorder.
I am also the Director of Rotorua Music School since 2014 and hope to provide the community with a fun and exciting school of music along with the help of committee, parents and friends of the school.
Ukulele Tutor:
Glenys Courtney-Strachan
Kia orana. My name is Glenys and I'm the ukulele tutor here at Rotorua Music School. Music and singing are important in my life and I want to share that passion.
Public performances are also part of my kaupapa. This supports our students, whilst gaining experience, building confidence and lets them know that they are valued contributing members of society.
Recorder Tutor:
Brenda Oakley
Brenda was born and raised in Rotorua, moving to Auckland to complete her Bachelor of Music and Postgraduate Secondary Teaching Diploma. She has been playing many instruments from a young age, starting on the piano, violin, and guitar, before moving to flute playing, and later saxophone.
Brenda has been teaching music in Tauranga secondary schools for the last 15 years, and currently commutes each day to Tauranga Boys’ College, where she is the HOD Music. She also has her own private music studio at her home.
Brenda has regularly played Flute/Piccolo with the Bay of Plenty Symphonia over the last ten years, and is currently playing Tenor Saxophone in the Tauranga Big Band.
Keyboard Tutor:
Kate Bennett
I love teaching both cello and keyboard from the Suzuki books as I think this is a very effective way to get children (and adults) quickly reading music. I may be a little "old school" in that I like to teach good posture, clean hands when playing instruments, and learning keyboard note names without writing them on the keys. Above all, I want my students to love playing, enjoy lessons, and hopefully to practise. I love teaching piano/keys but the instrument of my heart is cello. I discovered this amazing instrument later in life, proof that its never too late to start learning an instrument.
Goal being; by the end of a couple of terms, students are able to give small performances without getting too nervous. Students who only play at class with have fun and make some progress. Children who practise at home between classes will make steady progress and will soon experience the great feeling of looking back and seeing how far they have come. Occasionally children are self motivated, but in most cases parents support is needed with practise. My main goal is to motivate students to WANT to practise.
It is never too late to start learning an instrument, and Rotorua Music School is a fantastic way to make this dream come true, and such affordable fees!
Violin Tutor:
Daniel
Information coming soon.
Cello Tutor:
Kate Bennett
I love teaching both cello and keyboard from the Suzuki books as I think this is a very effective way to get children (and adults) quickly reading music. I may be a little "old school" in that I like to teach good posture, clean hands when playing instruments, and learning keyboard note names without writing them on the keys. Above all, I want my students to love playing, enjoy lessons, and hopefully to practise. I love teaching piano/keys but the instrument of my heart is cello. I discovered this amazing instrument later in life, proof that its never too late to start learning an instrument.
Goal being; by the end of a couple of terms, students are able to give small performances without getting too nervous. Students who only play at class with have fun and make some progress. Children who practise at home between classes will make steady progress and will soon experience the great feeling of looking back and seeing how far they have come. Occasionally children are self motivated, but in most cases parents support is needed with practise. My main goal is to motivate students to WANT to practise.
It is never too late to start learning an instrument, and Rotorua Music School is a fantastic way to make this dream come true, and such affordable fees!
Saxophone Tutor:
Brenda Oakley
Brenda was born and raised in Rotorua, moving to Auckland to complete her Bachelor of Music and Postgraduate Secondary Teaching Diploma. She has been playing many instruments from a young age, starting on the Piano, Violin, and Guitar, before moving to Flute playing, and later Saxophone.
Brenda has been teaching Music in Tauranga secondary schools for the last 15 years, and currently commutes each day to Tauranga Boys’ College, where she is the HOD Music. She also has her own private music studio at her home.
Brenda has regularly played Flute/Piccolo with the Bay of Plenty Symphonia over the last ten years, and is currently playing Tenor Saxophone in the Tauranga Big Band.
Drums Tutor:
Bill Blackbourn
My name is Bill Blackbourn. I have played drums in all sorts of musical situations in a semi-professional capacity for over 40 years, all over New Zealand.
My aim is to teach young drummers proper rudiments and expose them to as many different styles as possible, so that they can become well-rounded musical drummers.
Flute Tutor:
Brenda Oakley
Brenda was born and raised in Rotorua, moving to Auckland to complete her Bachelor of Music and Postgraduate Secondary Teaching Diploma. She has been playing many instruments from a young age, starting on the Piano, Violin, and Guitar, before moving to Flute playing, and later Saxophone.
Brenda has been teaching Music in Tauranga secondary schools for the last 15 years, and currently commutes each day to Tauranga Boys’ College, where she is the HOD Music. She also has her own private music studio at her home.
Brenda has regularly played Flute/Piccolo with the Bay of Plenty Symphonia over the last ten years, and is currently playing Tenor Saxophone in the Tauranga Big Band.
Vocal Tutor:
Fely Aragon-Batiloy
Graduated music scholar of
Bachelor of Music major in Music Education & Voice at the
University of San Agustin, Conservatory of Music in the Philippines
• Graduated 2 masters in the Philippines ;Master in Management major in Educational Management and Master of Arts in Cultural Education and graduated Post Graduate Diploma in Mentoring and Professional Leadership, Level 8 at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology 2016, NZ
• Former soloist and choir member of the renowned USA Troubadours and San Agustin Choir, Philippines
• Music and Art Teacher in the Philippines for 22 years
• 2013 METROBANK OUTSTANDING TEACHER OF THE PHILIPPINES
• Multi Awarded Music Teacher, singer, composer, church musical director, choir trainer and conductress of SPED - ISEC Children’s Choir –NAMCYA (National Music Competition for Young Artists) Winner in the Philippines
• Author of the book an inspirational book WHISPERS OF THE HEART, A POEM JOURNAL, other Musical books and innovations, Producer of 2 CD albums LANTON SANG GUGMA ( SONGS OF LOVE) I and II of Philippine arias and art art songs
• Visayas Representative to the National Commission for Culture and Arts
( NCCA) National Executive Committee in Music 2014, Philippines
• Cast of EVITA Broadway Musical Productions by the Rotorua Musical Theatre 2016, NZ
• Bird Woman role in MARY POPPINS Broadway Musical by the Rotorua Musical Theatre 2018, NZ
• Former ECE teacher of the Inspiring Kids Learning Centre, Rotorua, NZ
• At present, ECE Teacher of Learning Adventures Day Care Center, Rotorua, NZ
Jump Tutor:
Sorry, JUMP has been cancelled.
Marimba Tutor:
Tutor to be advised.