New Zealand Symphony Orchestra musicians work with Gisborne students

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra musicians and musical entertainer and educator Chris Lam Sam are presenting creative music workshops at Te Wharau School, Pātūtahi School and Ilminster Intermediate School this week. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra musicians and an acclaimed musical entertainer and educator will present creative music workshops at three Gisborne schools this week.

The NZSO’s music education animateur Chris Lam Sam, first violinist Megan Molina, associate principal flute Kirstin Eade, sub-principal trumpet Mark Carter and double bass player Malcolm Struthers will work with the students.

Workshops started at Te Wharau School today.

They go to Pātūtahi School on Thursday and Ilminster Intermediate School on Friday.

Lam Sam leads each 75-minute workshop, where a class of up to 30 students in years 4-8 create their own original piece of music.

Using small hand-percussion instruments that he provides, students work ‘like an orchestra’ to compose a piece based on a theme or story they invent.

Lam Sam and the NZSO players then help shape the students’ ideas into musical material, which gets rehearsed and performed by the class.

The schools can also supplement the NZSO instruments with any instruments the students already play.

“This is a unique, hands-on way for students and teachers to connect with their national orchestra,” an NZSO statement said.

“Students will learn how musicians collaborate and discover how composers create music.”

Lam Sam presented workshops last year to 100 students in four Tūranganui-a-Kiwa/Poverty Bay schools.

“Having NZSO players involved really lifts the experience for children as they can see and hear real instruments from the orchestra and even direct the players a bit when it comes to creating their musical piece as a class.”