Practical Music From the First Years, With Informal Learning as the Norm
At Pinehurst School (New Zealand), practical music-making is not a special event. It is the normal experience for students from their earliest years, supported by a whole-school commitment to active learning and performance. Led by HOD Visual and Performing Arts, Hadley Ronayne, the programme is delivered by two specialist teachers, one in the primary school and one in the college, providing continuity and depth.
Learn more about Pinehurst's Musical Futures program in this quick interview:
Music is part of the weekly rhythm of school life. Students in Years 1 to 9 participate in music lessons once or twice each week, building consistent skill development and confidence over time. From Year 10 onward, music becomes an option, with senior students following the Cambridge curriculum.
Musical Futures and a practical, hands-on approach underpin the programme across Years 1 to 9. The school is resourced to support this approach properly: full class sets of ukuleles, guitars, and percussion are available, and practice rooms are set up to make small-group learning and rehearsal achievable within the school day. Musical Futures resources are used across classes, helping teachers provide clear entry points into ensemble playing, rehearsal routines, and repertoire that students connect with.
Performance is fostered for all students, not only those with prior experience. Students are supported to make choices about the songs they perform, and informal learning routines become increasingly self-directed over time. The pattern is consistent: students begin with structured Musical Futures learning experiences, then gradually take greater ownership through independent rehearsal and group decision-making.
The outcome is a programme that is relevant and motivating. Song choices are connected to what students know and enjoy, engagement remains high, and students are frequently eager to perform. Pinehurst School reflects a simple but powerful belief: when students are trusted to learn music by doing it, they tend to rise to the challenge.