Now is the time to get writing for Hook Line and Singalong 2014 !

We are once again looking for a song that can be sung by hundreds of schools across the country come the end of May. Is it you?

Entries should:

• Be easy to sing (word setting that makes sense, and easy memorable melodies)
• Be relate-able and suitable for many to sing – Lyrically speaking they will say something of our cultural identity, our history, how we see ourselves.
• Have that special something!

Bonus:

• We would love to see the use of Te Reo Maori and other Pasifika languages!

Terms and Conditions of Entry can be found here: Get your applications in!

Song Competition -2014edit[6]

A Massive Thankyou To You All! (Hook Line and Sing-a-long wraps up for 2013)

(Pictured: Students from East Tamaki Primary, Edendale School and Kowhai Intermediate, with teachers Maria Winder, Jeremy Hantler and NZMC representative Catherine Walker on the set of Good Morning.)

Last Friday 31^st May over 20,000 school students across the country came together to celebrate NZ Music by singing the song of NZ Music Month 2013 ‘Paradise’ by Waimarie Smith of St Peter’s Cambridge.

Hook Line and Sing-a-long is a joint project of MENZA (Music Educators New Zealand Aotearoa) and The New Zealand Music Commission (with support from the Lion Foundation), which champions singing our songs in our schools.

We’ve been delighted with the enthusiasm for Hook Line and Sing-a-long this year with over 50 schools who participated – each in their own unique way.

Some of you gathered together your whole school, to sing ‘Paradise’ and other Hook Line and Sing-a-long songs ’21 Degrees’, ‘Huarahi Tika (Things to Remember)’ and ‘Made in NZ’. Others of you sang your school songs, the National Anthem and popular NZ favourites in addition to ‘Paradise’. Many of you signed along to Paradise, and made Hook Line and Sing-a-long a special occasion at your school by inviting parents, friends and the wider community into the celebrations. All of you participated with the greatest enthusiasm and creativity and we’ve been enjoying hearing of the various arrangements, instrumentations, and interactive ways you engaged with Hook Line and Sing-a-long for 2013.

Below is a list of schools who participated – if you took part and you are not on this list please let us know.

Bairds Mainfreight Primary School

Bishop Viard College

Bluestone School

Cambridge Primary

Chertsey School

Chisnallwood Intermediate

Cromwell College

David Street School

Dilworth Junior School

East Tamaki Primary School

Edendale School

Elm Park School

Epuni School

Fairfield Intermediate

Fairfield School

Frankton Primary School

Glenbervie School

Hamilton East

Hillcrest High School

Hillsborough Primary

Hobsonville School

Huanui College

Hukanui Primary

Isleworth School

James Cook School

Kaitaia College

Kereru School

KeriKeri Primary

Konini Primary School

Kowhai Intermediate

Limehills School

Maeroa Intermediate

Mangatangi School

Mangatawhiri School

Mangere East School

Manurewa West Primary School

Mission Heights Primary School

Musselburgh Primary School

Nelson Intermediate School

Northland School

Omanaia School

Panmure Bridge School

Paparimu School

Rangiora School

Silverdale Normal

St Ignatius Catholic School

St Mary’s College (welli)

St Peters School Cambridge

St Pius X (Glen Innes)

Summerland Primary School

Sunnyhills School

Taita College

Tauwhare school

The Redwood Kindergarten and Daycare

Whangarei Heads School

Woodford House

Photos, videos and tales from the day have been streaming into our office – and we will be uploading these to share with you all on our website www.hooklineandsingalong.com and passing onto MENZA for their website and publications.

We encourage you to send in pics of the day and any video footage you have – or for those of you who’ve not been in touch, we’d love to hear what you got up to.

For anyone who would like further copies of the ‘Paradise’ flyer, or Hook Line and Sing-a-long CD let us know and we can get these out to you over the coming week: email catherine@nzmusic.org.nz.

For the mean time – enjoy this clip of East Tamaki Primary, Kowhai Intermediate and Edendale School performing ‘Paradise’ on Good Morning television and look out for ‘Paradise’ on Matariki Magic on Maori Television in late June.

http://tvnz.co.nz/good-morning/extra-nz-music-month-paradise-video-5452780

Many thanks,

The New Zealand Music Commission

Education Team

Stephanie Lees and Catherine Walker.

‘In the Morning You Can Hear?’ (Getting Ready for Hook Line and Sing-a-long 2013)

The beautiful sounds of New Zealand children singing Waimarie’s ‘Paradise’ with its soulful melody, taonga puoro backing and contrasting upbeat reggae groove chorus.

All over the country, from Limehills in the far south to Kaitaia in the north schools tell us they are enjoying singing the Songs of NZ Music Month 2013; “Paradise” by Waimarie Smith and “Good Friends” by St Pius X students. These songs were released at the Music Month  launch on the 1st of May and are part of a family of songs from the ‘Write the Song of NZ Music Month’ competition that has been held for the past four years. Previous winners “Made in NZ”, (2010) “Huarahi Tika” (2011) and “21 Degrees” (2012) are being called classics and are very much part of the airwaves in our schools.

All songs are available for free download with backing tracks and lead sheets also at http://www.hooklineandsingalong.com

At Fairfield School, a Full Primary School in Dunedin, Paradise has quickly become a favourite and as with many schools around Aotearoa, is being sung at class/syndicate/assembly singing, as well as being played in the background while children complete other tasks.

In Southland Hook, Line and Sing-a-long day and NZ Music Month will be celebrated all week long. The annual SIT kids concert series runs May 28-31. All day shows are now full but there is a special, family friendly, FREE evening concert on Wednesday May 29 at 7pm at Centrestage. SIT students will be performing the Hook Line and Sing-a-long songs all week, as well as visiting Windsor North primary school on May 31st at lunchtime to join voices.

Here are students from many Auckland schools together rehearsing “Paradise” using “NZ Sign Language” during NZSL week http://menza.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Massed-Choir-Rehearsal-at-Dilworth.mov

In the Waikato they are lucky to have songwriter, Waimarie Smith performing with a school backing-band at St Peter’s and a large group of combined schools are meeting at the Faculty of Education at noon.

School who have been singing to date :

Bairds Mainfreight Primary School

Bluestone School

Chertsey School

David Street School

Chisnallwood Intermediate

Dilworth Junior School

East Tamaki Primary School

Edendale School

Elm Park School

Epuni School

Fairfield Intermediate

Fairfield School

Frankton Primary School

Hamilton East

Hillcrest High School

Hillsborough Primary

Hukanui Primary

James Cook School

Kaitaia College

KeriKeri Primary

Konini Primary School

Kowhai Intermediate

Limehills School

Maeroa Intermediate

Mangatangi School

Mangatawhiri School

Manurewa West Primary School

Musselburgh Primary School

Northland School

Omanaia School

Paparimu School

Silverdale Normal

St Mary’s College (Welli)

St Peters School Cambridge

St Pius X (Glen Innes)

Summerland Primary School

Taita College

Tauwhare school

The Redwood Kindergarten and Daycare

Whangarei Heads School

MENZA – Music Education NZ Aotearoa – our national music teachers professional group, and the New Zealand Music Commission are so very pleased to know that these songs written by young New Zealanders are being enjoyed by so many this Music Month and for the years to come. Hook Line and Sing-a-long is a fitting end to NZ Music Month and a wonderful celebration of the creativity of our students!

How Do I Participate in Hook Line and Sing-a-long 2013?

Now that the winning song ‘Paradise’ by Waimarie Smith (St Peter’s College) has been chosen, what does it mean to participate  in Hook Line and Sing-a-long?

All across the country, come noon 31^st May, schools will be coming together to sing ‘Paradise’. What does this look like for your school?

You might consider:

• A special school assembly at noon – to sing Paradise, you could also sing some other NZ songs to celebrate NZ Music Month, or your school song, or last years winning songs from the competition.

• You might like to do your own arrangement of Paradise, rather than singing along to the backing track. What different groups, instrumentalists do you have in the school you could utilise?

• Could you do an acapella version of the song, with percussion instruments?

• Could you gather the school together and invite parents, and community members to join in?

• Take another look at the National Anthem, and all the fabulous resources available on the Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s website in particular this video http://www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-anthems in New Zealand Sign Language, Maori and English is pretty neat. You can also check out Waimarie’s song Paradise in sign language here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlHyZyUR4EA&feature=player_embedded

Hook Line and Sing-a-long is all about getting kids singing their songs, our songs, NZ songs, so whatever that looks like to you – let us know what you’re planning and we’ll help you whichever way we can!

Please let us know if you would like to receive a Hook Line and Sing-a-long CD and flyer by emailing education@nzmusic.org.nz

Happy Music Month

Catherine and Stephanie,

The Education Team

NZ Music Commission

Waimarie Smith announced as winner of the ‘Write The Song of NZ Music Month’ competition at today’s NZMM public launch.

At noon today (1^st May) young and old gathered around the Auckland library steps for the official NZ Music Month Public Launch. To kick off the proceedings the Hon Nikki Kaye, Minister for Youth, addressed the crowd and announced Waimarie Smith of St Peter’s School as this year’s winner of the ‘Write the Song of NZMM Competition’. Waimarie then took to the stage to sing her song entitled ‘Paradise’, followed by performances from Sistema Aotearoa, East Tamaki Primary and St Pius X school. Accompanying the kids with their violins, cellos and ukuleles were kiwi boy-band Titanium who were only to happy to join in on an enthusiastic rendition of their popular hit ‘Come on Home’.

‘Paradise,’ well received by the assembled VIPs and public outside the library marks the month’s beginning and will also signal its end as hundreds of school children nationwide come together to sing the song at noon on the 31^st May in an event aptly titled ‘Hook Line and Sing-a-long.’

Judges Titanium, Massad and Eliza Benge (Pacifica Beats MAINZ scholarship winner 2013) felt Paradise was a clear winner with its beautiful verse melody, catchy chorus, and intelligent lyrics. They also wanted to make special mention of Angelica Siale and the Uprising Vibrations from St Pius X, who were a close second with their catchy, cheerful song ‘Good Friends’. Both songs have been recorded and will be available for teachers to use.

Recorded at Auckland’s iconic Stebbing Studio Waimarie worked alongside Musician Mentors Anna Coddington, Tonga Vaea (Three Houses Down) and Horomono Horo to flesh out her song; adding guitar, drums and elements of Taonga Puoro to the arrangement. The New Zealand Music Commission have been fortunate to have all three musicians working in schools for some years now under its Musicians Mentoring in Schools Programme funded by the Ministry of Education. Another NZMC Musician Mentor and hiphop producer, Matt Faiumu Salapu (aka Anonymouz,) recorded the “Good Friends” track.

A flyer with both Paradise and Good Friends will appear in the Education Gazette, Monday 6 May and many teacher workshops are to be held around the country with a focus to learning to lead these songs on May 10^th. See www.menza.co.nz to see where the nearest teacher music professional development day is for your region.  Parents, teachers and schools start planning May 31^st and Hook line and Sing-along now – let us know what you are up to and how we can help. education@nzmusic.org.nz

See Waimarie interviewed on “Marae Investigates” TV1, 10 am Sunday 5^th May.

Both tracks (and backing track versions) are available for download at www.hooklineandsingalong.com

 Titanium and Massad, in search of the winning song for the NZ Music Month song-writing competition, take over the Music Commission Board Room!

Tuesday of last week we invited judges Titanium and Massad along with Eliza Benge (Pacifica Beats Mainz Scholarship Award Winner) and Maria Winder (MENZA; The professional umbrella organisation for music educators in NZ) to the Music Commission. Their mission; to decide who would take out the ‘Write the Song of NZ Music Month 2013’ competition and have their song sung by thousands of students on the 31^st May for the 4^th annual Hook Line and Sing-a-long.

After much debate, a winner was decided! We can’t announce names just yet, but we can say that the winning song stood out with its beautiful verse melody,catchy chorus and intelligent lyrical ideas drawing on New Zealand’s deep history.

A busy day at the iconic Stebbing’s Studio in Auckland followed, with the lucky winner working alongside Musician Mentors Anna Coddington, Tonga Vaea (Three Houses Down) and Horomono Horo adding elements of Taonga Puoro to the mix.

Anna, Tonga and Horomono, well versed in song-writing and arranging, have been mentoring in schools across New Zealand for many years under the Music Commission’s Mentoring in Schools Programme funded by the Ministry of Education.

The Winner will be announced at the official NZ Music Month Launch at noon on the 1^st May at Auckland Central Library steps (Lorne St), with a few special (famous!) faces to boot and the young songwriter receiving his/her prizes from the Minister of Youth Affairs, the honourable Nikki Kaye.

Remember to register your school at education@nzmusic.org.nz – we look forward to singing the song with you and thousands of kids across NZ at noon on the 31^st May.

For more information you can check out our website here: http://hooklineandsingalong.com/

Check out Massad’s Music here: http://www.massadmusic.com/

Check out Titanium’s Music here: http://www.theedge.co.nz/Titanium.aspxFor more information about MENZA check out their website here http://www.menza.co.nz

Hook Line and Singalong is an annual songwriting competition open to all school aged children across New Zealand from Primary through to Secondary. The competition is run by the New Zealand Music Commission and MENZA.

The competition seeks to find a song that encapsulates what it means to be a New Zealander, what that means to you and what you love about Aotearoa.

The winning song is chosen by a panel of guest judges and becomes the song of Music Month sung at schools across the country at noon on the 31st May.

The winner will be flown to Auckland to professionally record the song as well as receiving a raft of prizes for you and your school!