This year, we went on a very special EOTC (Education Outside the Classroom) trip to visit the Manukau Symphony Orchestra. It was an amazing experience for all of us!
When we arrived, we saw lots of different musical instruments on stage—violins, flutes, drums, and many more. The musicians were getting ready, and we could feel the excitement in the air.
One of the best parts of the day was when Suzie Duffy read storybooks out loud, and the orchestra played music to match the stories. As she read, the music helped us feel the emotions and imagine what was happening. When the story was exciting, the music was loud and fast. When the story was calm, the music was soft and gentle. It was mesmerising to watch how the orchestra brought the story to life with sound. It felt like we were inside the story!
The musicians also showed us their instruments and explained how they make different sounds. The children loved learning how each instrument works and how they all play together as a team to make beautiful music.
After we came back to school, the tamariki were full of excitement! They talked about their favourite instruments, the stories, and how cool it was to hear music and reading come together. Some even tried making music of their own in class!
We are so thankful to the Manukau Symphony Orchestra and Suzie Duffy for such a fun and inspiring day. It was a wonderful way to learn about music, storytelling, and working together.
What a magical trip it was—one we will always remember!