Kia ora koutou katoa. Ko Carrie Vander Zwaag ahau. As the TSOM flute tutor, I love the opportunity to connect with individual students' interests, strengths and passions to grow their love and capacity for music.

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I'm super passionate about creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions, try new things, learn from mistakes, have fun and grow!

I’ve had 30+ years playing flute and actually learnt to play in rural Alaska over speaker phone - pre-Skype days! I also play the piccolo and privately tutor students. I now play in several local and regional ensembles playing music that range from classical, to Big Band, to Funk.

I like the flute because it suits many musical genres. Fingering on the flute is similar to playing the recorder and there is no need to bother with reeds, broken strings, or earplugs although eventually you might want earplugs if you play piccolo!

Hi, I'm Chris Marshall. Surprisingly I've been playing the trumpet since I was at primary school, so should be a lot better than I am, but there was quite a long hiatus between when I left school and getting back into it as my children took up music.

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I have also branched out into other valved brass instruments like the Baritone Horn, Euphonium, Eb Horn and Tuba (the fingerings are all the same which makes life easy).

The trumpet is a good starting point for other brass instruments and it is pretty adaptable. That means that you should make as many friends as you lose by playing one.

I play in a few local groups, such as the Taupō Concert Band and Great Lake Big Band. Ensemble playing is a great way to have fun and learn more musicianship and I would recommend getting involved in groups whenever you have the time. I am also one of the tutors with the Taupō School Of Music Wind Band.

Hi, I’m Emma Clark. I recently emigrated from the UK and since February 2018 I have been teaching keyboard for the Taupō School of Music. I also teach piano privately.

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I am passionate about group keyboard classes which aim to be social, fun and a great way to explore different aspects of music theory and performance together. We enjoy music games together and work on a wide range of pieces.

If you are keen to learn, bring your keyboard, music folder and enthusiasm along each week. I’d love to see you!

Bio to come

Jo has been playing music since she was 10 years old when she learnt the violin. A multi instrumentalist, she plays the violin, cello, guitar, bass guitar,french horn, piano and loves to sing.

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Her passion is working with younger students. She is the vocalist for the Great Lake Big Band as well as a number of other ensembles in Taupō. One of the high points in Jo's musical career was when she sang at a friends wedding in Hampton Court Palace when she lived in London.

Little known fact - Jo is a specialist dementia nurse by trade.

Hi. My name is Kaylene Carson and I've been a tutor for the TSoM for over 20 years. I am currently teaching our Music Makers and Ukulele classes. I am also the Director of the Keynotes Choir.

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I believe that all children should have the opportunity to participate in music, as the benefits are so positive for their development.

I regularly tell students that "Learning music makes you smarter. It’s a proven fact!"

Hi. My name is Matt West. My instrument is the Trombone which I currently play in a number of bands including the Great Lake Big Band, Hot Tub, Blended, the Taupō Concert Band, Brass Band and the Palmerston North Brass Band.

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I am the Director of The Taupō Youth Wind Band and am on the Board as the parent representative.

The Trombone is a fantastic Instrument. It is used in all types of bands, from orchestras to rock bands and in my opinion (although I may be biased), it is the best sounding and the most fun to play of all the brass instruments.

Hi I’m Moira. I taught myself to play the guitar several decades ago and enjoy playing folk music and singing with friends and family. Ten years ago I started playing the ukulele with a group of women and this year joined a local group ‘The Algae Blooms’, who host the Kinloch Music Group once a month and play at local events where we play a variety of covers.

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I joined the Taupō School of Music 10 years ago teaching guitar mostly to beginners. It is great to see the enjoyment that learning an instrument gives students. I find it really rewarding watching the enthusiasm of my pupils as they become more skilled in their playing over the year. For me, music is lots of fun!

Hi I'm Richard. I'm a Violinist and have been playing this instrument for over 15 years, along with Trumpet. I recently graduated from the University of Auckland School of Music with Honours in Composition, where I composed for a variety of ensembles such as NZTrio and ACE Brass.

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While being back in Taupō, I've been involved in a range of ensembles such as the Taupō Concert Band, Great Lake Big Band and the Taupō Brass Band.

As well as teaching at the TSOM, I also teach students at Taupō-nui-a-Tia College and Tauhara College, both individually and in ensemble sessions.

Hi I’m Sarah Denny and I’ve been teaching the recorder to first, second and sometimes third year recorder students for many years. I am passionate about teaching the recorder to young children.

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I love showing them that they can have fun while learning basic theory and becoming confident recorder players at the same time.

The recorder is also a wonderful starting out instrument, and a great foundation for moving onto other instruments.

Hi - I’m Sarah Monro. I’ve been the Co-Ordinator for the Taupō School of Music since 2009. Together with the Principal, Jo Paull, and our brilliant Board, our aim is to make instrumental music tuition available for all children in our district.

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You will find me in our music school office each Tuesday or perhaps relief tutoring keyboard classes or being the relief accompanist for the Keynotes Choir.

I have a degree in organisational and intercultural communications as well as music. I currently teach piano to students at one of our local colleges, as well as privately. You will also find me accompanying many students for their Trinity exams and local performances throughout the year.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, being out on the lake, biking and playing pickleball!

H,i I'm Steve. I've been playing the guitar since I was 11 years old when I signed up for group guitar lessons run by the Ealing Council in London. I belong to the Registry of Guitar Tutors in the UK where I obtained a teaching diploma about 10 years ago.

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I'm a member of a number of bands in Taupō and regularly perform with either one of these bands or as a soloist.

Outside of music I love anything to do with water, either swimming, boating, fishing or paddle-boarding and I'm an avid sci-fi fan. My special unknown skill is juggling!

I have taught at the Taupō School of Music since it first began in the 80’s and still look forward to group music teaching there. Clarinet is my specialist instrument and is a good one when moving on from recorder.

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It is light enough to hold for the average nine year old and is a good introduction to the saxophone which is heavier and larger! Competent clarinet players are in high demand as this is the main instrument for a concert band.

As creator of The Taupō Youth Wind Band I have also seen the value of having a good percussion section. I have taught percussion for several years and have enjoyed seeing students get involved in this often overlooked area of learning.

Growing up in Matamata New Zealand, Monique’s passion for music emerged after learning the recorder at primary school. Later transitioning to classical flute, Monique went on to study a BMus degree at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington.

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Wishing to pursue music further, Monique completed a Masters degree of Music with first class honours under the tutelage of Uwe Grodd at the University of Auckland.

Whilst in Auckland, Monique regularly played with several ensembles including Manukau Symphony Orchestra, St Matthews Chamber Orchestra, Wairua Sinfonietta, and Blackbird Ensemble. Monique was awarded the principal flute position with the Royal New Zealand Navy Band in 2016. A memorable experience was playing at the Battle of Messines Commemoration in Belgium. She has been teaching the flute privately since she was 15.

Pivoting towards classroom teaching in 2018, Monique taught English in Thailand before returning to New Zealand. She currently resides in Taupō and is a generalist classroom teacher as well as a music specialist at Waipāhīhī-a-Tia Primary School teaching ukulele, recorder, flute, and rock bands.