National High School Jazz Workshop

The National High School Jazz Workshop is run annually, in the last week of the Christmas/New Year school vacation. Entry is open to musicians from anywhere in New Zealand who attended secondary school in the immediate previous year, and who have attained a level of approximately Grade 3 performance on their chosen instrument. (We have had attendees from Dargaville, Otorohanga, Whakatane, Te Anau, Hokitika, Invercargill.). Tutors and bandleaders are chosen from a pool of eminent and experienced educator-musicians. The workshop starts on a Monday with the group being divided into big bands/combos and given intensive group and sectional tuition. This concert is a popular event on the Wellington jazz calendar.

Students from out of town can be billeted; lunches are provided so the course fee plus travel costs to and from Wellington, amounts to a real bargain for the chance to work with top tutors and with peers from throughout New Zealand. (Exchange students from overseas have also participated.)

School music teachers are welcome as observers by arrangement . Application forms are circulated to all HoDs (Music) in September-October each year, as well as direct mailing in response to enquiries.

A good proportion of students have attended one or more times previously - they keep on coming back!

Thanks to all the tutors, helpers, students, parents, billetors, New Zealand School of Music, Wellington High School and the Ministry of Education.