Welcome to
EBOP Children's Music School
The EBOP Children's Music School is Ministry of Education funded, offering affordable small group lessons in a wide range of instruments designed to spark and grow your child’s love and interest in music. Enrolment takes place in February with classes starting in March for children ages 9-12 (with some exceptions).
Operating in Whakatane for over 30 years and offering a range of instruments, classes are taught by skilled and qualified musical tutors with a passion for children’s musical education.
ANNUAL ENROLMENT FEE $80
This is the fee for the entire year of lessons. This fee is per class (not per student) and payable on enrolment.
It is non-refundable if the student drops out after 2 weeks.
INSTRUMENT HIREAGE
$60
If you need to hire an instrument from the music school, it is $60 for the year.
Available Instruments are: Violin, Brass, Flute and Clarinet.
MUSIC BOOKS
$26 - $39
Some classes require books, if this is the case, the tutor will let you know.
INSTRUMENT PURCHASE
$17 - $33
We offer Recorders and Fifes for sale as an affordable way to begin learning music.
Email if you wish to purchase one.
Instruments we offer:
KEYBOARD
A good introduction for Music.
Tutor: DJ and Jasmine Reed
Day: Mon or Tue 4:30 - 6:30pm
Class size: 6 students
Location: Trident High School
DRUMS/PERCUSSION
Tutor: Jonathan Platt
Day:
Class size: 3 students
Location: Whakatane High
Students need own drumsticks
VIOLIN
The most popular of the string family of instruments.
Tutor: Jasmine Reed
Days: Tuesday 3:30 - 5.30pm
Class size: 3 students
Location: Trident High School
Instruments available for hire
CLARINET
Clarinet is a single-reed woodwind instrument, found in most orchestras and bands.
Tutor: Christer Thackeray-Courtnell
Days: Mondays 3:30 - 5:30pm
Class size: 2 students
Location: Trident High School
Instruments available for hire
SAXOPHONE
A wonderful instrument to learn, and suitable for beginners.
Tutor: Tom Bayliss
Days: Monday 3:30 - 5:30pm
Class size: n/a
Location: Tutor's home in Whakatane
Alto Saxophone available for hire.
RECORDER
The recorder is a member of the woodwind family and a great beginning for young kids to learn an instrument.
Tutor: Christer Thackeray-Courtnell
Days: Monday 3:30 - 4:30pm
Class size: 5 students
Location: Trident High School
Instruments available for hire
GUITAR
Introduction to Guitar
Tutor: Hani Totorewa
Days: Wednesdays
Class size: 4 students
Location:
Students need their own instrument
FLUTE
Flutes are a joy to learn, and a great place to begin your musical journey.
Tutor: DJ Reed
Days: Tuesday
Class size: 2 students
Location: Trident High
Instruments available for hire
BRASS
Classes available for trumpet, cornet, trombone, horn and baritone.
Tutor: Oram Family
Days: Friday 3:30 - 4:30pm
Class size: 3 students
Location: Brass Band Rooms
Instruments available for hire
FIFE
A Fife is a mini flute and a great option for beginners.
Tutor: DJ Reed
Days: Mon & Tues
Class size: 2 students
Location: Trident High
Students will need their own instrument, and we have Fifes for sale for $32.50.
Ukelele
Coming soon
Our tutors
Christer Thackeray-Courtnell
My name is Christer Thackeray-Courtnell. I have a level 4 Associate Diploma in Recital in Clarinet from Trinity College London (ATCL). I also play the Saxophone. I have always enjoyed playing music, and in 2016 I joined Whakatane Community Orchestra.
More recently, I have taught clarinet and recorder for a few years with the Children’s Music School. It has been wonderful to have the opportunity to help bring on local musical talent; and give the opportunity for adults and children to showcase their skills in formal and informal settings.
Deidre and Jasmine Reed
DJ and Jaz. Mother and daughter duo. DJ is our fife and flute tutor. Jazmine is our violin tutor. Both teach keyboard. They have been involved with the CMS for over 12yrs becoming tutors in 2018.
They both played with the Whakatane Community Orchestra for 7 years before moving to Tauranga. Now they play with the Katikati Concert Band. Jazmine also plays in the Youth Philharmonic, BOP Symphonia and is an itinerant violin teacher at Trident High school.
Hani Totorewa
Ko Hāni Totorewa tōku ingoa
Nō Rangiriri ahau
I currently teach puoro (music) at Te Wharekura o Ruatoki & Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Orīni.
The kutā (guitar) is my first instrument and I am pleased to show techniques, tips and methods for learning guitar.
Jonathan Platt
Intro to tutor and instrument they teach
Oram Family
Intro to tutor and instrument they teach
Tom Bayliss
The saxophone is one of the closest sounding instruments to the human voice, and the fingering is almost the same as a recorder.
I have played in groups ranging from operatic orchestras to Jazz, Rock, Country and Renaissance ensembles so I play a wide range of music. I am largely self taught and see my role as teaching everyone in such a way that they can teach themselves.
I have been teaching for over 60 years. LTCL, LRSM, DipTeaching, QSM