Ensemble Director PLD in Dunedin

With the support of MENZA, who have supported the initiative from its earliest development and helped bring it to the education community, we invite South Island music educators to MEFA School Ensemble Director PLD on Tuesday 1 December 2026 at Otago Girls’ High School, Dunedin.

Building on our North Island sessions, this practical professional learning opportunity supports teachers establishing, developing or refining school ensemble programmes. Whether you are starting your first group, rebuilding a programme, or leading an established ensemble, the focus is on strengthening your teaching and developing confident, independent student musicians.

The programme is developed for teachers of all levels of ensemble direction, whether you are a full-time classroom teacher or itinerant taking a group.

The provisional programme offers Jazz, Wind and Orchestral streams, alongside General Ensemble Practice and a Foundations Hub. Sessions are identified by level—Establishing, Developing and Refining—to help you choose learning relevant to your school.

Examples from the provisional programme include:

• Jazz: Building a Functional Jazz Programme (Establishing); Jazz Live Lab – Building Improvisation Through Rehearsal(Developing); and Improvisation Sequencing: Fear → Fluency and Rhythm Section Interaction & Comping Strategies(Developing/Refining).
• Wind: Starting / Stabilising a Wind Band (Establishing); Wind Live Lab – Tone, Balance & Rhythm (Developing); andTightening Ensemble Precision & Musical Intent and Repertoire that Develops Technique & Musicianship (Refining).
• Orchestral: Starting / Rebuilding an Orchestral Programme (Establishing); Orchestral Live Lab – Intonation, Bowing & Balance (Developing); and Score Study → Rehearsal Mapping and Repertoire Preparation Without Over-Rehearsing(Developing/Refining).
• General Ensemble Practice and Foundations: Teaching Beyond the Music and Sustaining an Ensemble Programme Over Time (all levels); Building Independent Student Musicians (Developing/Refining); plus first-rehearsal planning and flex-band strategies for teachers establishing new groups.

Adopting a flexible approach these examples come from the provisional programme; the final session selection and timetable will be tailored depending on interest and attendance.

At the heart of the day is student musicianship: helping young people listen, feel pulse, understand rhythm, make musical decisions and take ownership of their contribution. For teachers beginning new programmes, that also means practical support to establish productive rehearsals and build an ensemble culture that lasts.

Feedback from previous attendees highlighted both the quality and accessibility of the learning:

“This is the best music-specific PD I’ve experienced in my 15-year career.”

“As someone new to jazz, wind, and orchestral ensembles, I found the content highly accessible and directly applicable to starting programmes at my school.”

The day also offers an opportunity to connect with colleagues, share challenges and gather ideas you can take straight back to your students.

Please reply to express your interest, by emailing dsmith@musicworks.co.nz

We look forward to welcoming you in Dunedin.

Kind regards,