Specialist Music Programme | Ehara taku toa I te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini

The SMP is a unique programme that above all promotes excellence in all aspects, provides a stimulating and challenging environment in which talented musicians thrive and creates opportunities for high- performing musicians to work alongside other similarly minded students from all year levels, guided by tuition from professional musicians.

Excellence in Music

It offers a seamless and co-ordinated progression of learning from junior primary school, through secondary school to university. SMP students maintain a focus on Music throughout their time at high school, however they follow the same timetable and have the same subject options available to them as other students.

Admittance to the SMP is by audition and is open to all instruments and voice. Successful applicants will be placed within a 9PMU form class; please note that the SMP content is delivered separately to the curriculum through instrument specific workshops held weekly after school.

Whatever career path students choose to pursue post-high school, the discipline, focus, self- management and social skills required to thrive as a musician in the SMP are vital personal qualities and life skills that universities actively seek in their applicants.

Further information about the SMP is available online: www.specialistmusicprogramme.co.nz and in the full SMP information pack, available from reception or from the same website. More specific queries may be sent to Chris Petch, HOD Music: pe@burnside.school.nz

Note: Students who are accepted into the school’s SMP do not need to live in-zone to be accepted into the school. Each year we welcome students into the SMP from within Christchurch, across wider New Zealand and from overseas.

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