Budding musicians from Ashburton Intermediate School will be among hundreds of students performing at next week’s Strum, Strike, Blow festival in Christchurch.
The event, at Wolfbrook Arena on August 15 from 7pm, will feature more than 1200 pupils, from 55 schools, playing marimbas, ukuleles and recorders.
Music teacher Dayle Stoliker said there were up to 50 students attending from Ashburton Intermediate who will be playing marimbas (a softer toned instrument to a xylophone) and ukuleles.
The day will include a full day rehearsal and an evening performance.
‘‘We have got a whole day out where we go in and do a practice, then we will spend the day in town doing various activities, and then we come back for a concert,’’ Stoliker said.
‘‘It’s a big day out.’’
Students will perform five tunes, as well as three mass tunes with other musicians.
There would be various other entertainment during the 75-minute performance, he said.
Stoliker has run the school’s music programme for a year and found it ‘‘quite exciting’’ to get the kids involved.
‘‘We have been going to recording sessions – we have a music extension group that will form a band of ukuleles, guitars, pianos, drums, marimbas and even recorders,’’ he said.
Stoliker said some of his students were beginners, while others had been practicing since last year.
‘‘I want them to be part of a musical experience as well,’’ he said.
‘‘If they’re here and they’ve got good singing voices they can go and play the chords that they can, and join us in the singing of the tunes.’’
It will be the second time the school was attending the event but this time it was on a bigger scale.
‘‘It’s a lot of fun, and it’s probably twice the size it was last year.
‘‘We’ve really increased our numbers, and I’m just excited to keep the music happening for a big event like this,’’ Stoliker said.
The event, an amalgamation of two former Christchurch festivals; the marimba, and the ukulele festivals, is run by Music Education Canterbury and Christchurch Civic Music Council.
The music caters for all levels of experience and, when performed live at the festival event, is backed by a professional band.
