Jane Clifford Professional Blog

On Wednesday 6th September our  Ukulele  players participated in the Canterbury Strum Strike Blow concert at the Canterbury Area with over 1000 other musicians. A wonderful experience playing with all the musicians from other Canterbury primary schools and also seeing some famous Cantabrian music writers and performers.  Although this was a small group, I am so proud to be able to teach these keen musicians to play the ukulele - and give them this lifelong skill. The group is very young, and these young musicians now have solid skills with which to build upon. Several students have asked to join the group going forward, and some of these students will be great senior mentors next year. STRUM STRIKE BLOW SITE - includes a photos and video page.

Mere Rang  - My Colours This event was created and hosted very professionally by Hornby High School students, lead by Risha, in August 2023. My feeling is that it has grown out of the increasing number of schools in the Uru Mānuka Kahui that have Indian cultural dance groups. Our teacher Deepshikha Sethi teaches both Classical and Bollywood dances, and, as is for Kapa Haka, cultural awareness & language are embraced as Dee explains the stories that are told through the dances. Our Bollywood group was the first in the cluster. We have been a group since 2021. The group came about when a year 5 student of mine asked if we could learn Bollywood dances and her mother showed me a family video, dancing Bollywood in Fiji.  Upon starting the group, I learned that this dance style was also part of the cultural experience of our Middle Eastern students who immediately joined the new group. A wonderful benefit of the group, was the confidence and cultural pride that resulted, which s...