Friday, January 21, 2022 | Uncategorized

Kia Ora Parents/Caregivers,

We hope you’ve had a restful summer break. This is my first day back in the office for the year having been ill, so I apologise that I have not replying to emails.   There is a lot of catching up to do as I am still transitioning into the Amplify managers role, so please give me extra grace as I get up to speed.  The tutors are excited about getting back into the year and making beautiful music with your young people. Scheduling of lessons is our key priority next week, so we will be in touch asap.

The management of Youth Alive Trust have looked at the finances of Amplify over the past couple of years and confirmed that it has made a financial loss both years. One of our key visions is to provide affordable music lessons, and we believe we have been one of the cheapest music schools in the city, but we need to at least break even to be sustainable.  We have also been stung by unpaid accounts amounted to thousands of dollars. 

We want to honour the tutors with a pay increase and run a sustainable music school in the long term.  Our last price increase was January 2019, therefore from January 2022, these will be our new prices.

Rock Bands lessons will be $8.00 per person.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we’ll get back to you next week.

Nga Mihi Nui 

Vai Punivai 

amplify@yat.org.nz

Tuesday, September 7, 2021 | Uncategorized

Kia ora friends!

So excited to be back!

Lessons are beginning to kick off again later this week. Your tutor will contact you directly regarding when things will start. 

Any questions please don't hesitate to contact me :)

Nga mihi

Finn

Monday, August 23, 2021 | Uncategorized

Kia ora everyone!

I hope you are all keeping safe in your homes. Obviously, lessons won't be taking place during Level 3 and 4. 

There is the option to have Zoom lessons with your tutor, please get in touch with them directly if you wish to do so and see what is possible.

You will not be charged for lessons throughout this lockdown, with the possible exception a few make-up credits issued early in the lockdown (between the 18th and 20th of August) when it was initially only going to be a three days. This doesn't affect many students and you should be aware if this concerns you. If you have questions about that please contact me. It is obviously our priority to make those lessons up as soon as possible. 

If you need food assistance during this time, or help with having shopping done, groceries delivered, etc, please contact me. Amplify has a substantial amount of contacts throughout the region that specialize in those areas.

Nga mihi

Finn Chirnside

Amplify Coordinator 

Wednesday, August 12, 2020 | Uncategorized

Kia ora everyone!

I hope that you're all keeping well and healthy. It's an incredibly stressful time of life, I can't begin to imagine the impact this could have on your families, jobs, study and mental health. 

The plan at the moment is for lessons to continue, unless otherwise stated by your school. If you're feeling unwell, please DO NOT come to lessons.
We'll keep you posted on any changes as the situation develops.

**If you are coming into the YAT building, please come in and leave via the Seaview Road doors and sign in and sign out on the tablet by the reception desk. This is a must until we go back to level one.** 

If you find that over this time you are struggling financially, or you need food, don't hesitate to contact Compassion Trust. They are based out of the Grace Vineyard building in New Brighton and were amazing during the last lockdown, helping people with food parcels and budgeting. You can contact them on: office@compassiontrust.org.nz or 379 2329

If there's anyway I or the wider Youth Alive Trust team can help, please get in touch.

Kia kaha 

Finn Chirnside
Amplify Coordinator 

Tuesday, August 11, 2020 | Uncategorized

We recently said a sad farewell to original Amplify coordinator, Josiah Dayo, and a big welcome to new coordinator Finn Chirnside!!! Josiah was the founder of Amplify in 2013 and has seen it grow through Youth Alive Trust to now teaching over 230 students every week!! We wish Josiah all the best in his new employment, and look forward to seeing him continue and flourish in the local music industry.

Finn brings a fresh passion and perspective to Amplify, can play multiple instruments and genres, and really wants to see young people grow as people as well as musicians. He’ll be teaching guitar as well as coordinating lessons, tutors, instrument hire and gigs.

 Contact Finn at: amplify@yat.org.nz