Polytechnic helps boost Aranui’s music reputation

Media Release – December 3, 2004

Tai Poutini Polytechnic helps boost Aranui’s music reputation

Tai Poutini Polytechnic and Aranui High School are joining forces to create better music opportunities for their students.

The agreement will see 20 Tai Poutini Polytechnic live sound students based at Aranui’s superb new Performance Arts Centre in Christchurch from next February.

Aranui High School, famous for producing rap group Scribe, is becoming a centre for music.

The live sound course trains people for the music industry to run live performance gigs and operate sound systems, lighting and staging.

With the current upsurge in the music industry and emphasis on New Zealand music, this expanding industry needs more trained staff.

Tai Poutini chief executive Don Campbell said the polytech needed a venue to teach live sound and their High St campus in Christchurch was not big enough.

``Our students will help with their musicals and productions by doing the sound, lighting etc for them. They have an amazing facility and do a lot of shows.

``We have students learning how to use such a facility and put on shows. We have expertise to provide short courses for their students and also to provide professional development opportunities for their staff and also for staff from other schools.

``They will have 100 students doing NCEA music next year and we have courses specialising in the creative / music industry.

``It’s a really good fit and a great example of secondary and tertiary education providers working together to increase opportunities.’’

Aranui High Principal Graeme Pollock said the joint venture provides access to a live sound crew for school shows, training for students and staff and access to other audio engineering courses at the polytech’s High Street campus.

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