Christchurch
French Horn Lessons | Trumpet Lessons, Violin Lessons | Artist development, Ensemble Coaching, NCEA Music Tutoring, Online Lessons
Bio
For the most transformative music lessons in Christchurch, look no further than Morton Music. Founders Arna and Alex Morton are not just performers; they are master educators dedicated to unlocking every student’s potential. From their central studio as Artists in Residence at The Piano, they provide premium violin and brass instruction rooted in a revolutionary approach: The HIIP Method™. This proven system, developed by Arna and Alex and even taught at the Victorian College of the Arts, moves beyond simple technique to equip students with the mindset and strategies for efficient, effective, and joyful practice. Experience the difference that expert, scientifically-informed instruction can make.
ABOUT ARNA
Dr. Arna Morton is a deeply passionate music educator, violinist, and composer, dedicated to fostering musical excellence and personal authenticity in the next generation of musicians. Her innovative teaching is informed by a distinguished performance career and a reflective scholarly practice.
As an educator, Arna brings over a decade of experience to her joint teaching studio, Morton Music, as an Artist in Residence at The Piano, Christchurch. Her students regularly achieve top honours, with several becoming multi-year finalists in the NZCT Chamber Music Contest and the majority of her academic supervision students achieving NCEA Scholarship or Outstanding Scholarship. Her pedagogical approach was further honed during her tenure as a Casual Lecturer in Violin at the University of Melbourne (2015–2020).
Arna’s teaching philosophy is deeply connected to her own artistic journey. Her PhD research from the University of Melbourne critically examined the development of a highly-personal interpretive methodology, a process she now applies to help students find their own authentic voice. This scholarly work is backed by a versatile performance career as Principal 2nd Violin of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, a founding member of the acclaimed Morton Trio and CSO Arvida Quartet, and regular freelance work with the New Zealand String Quartet, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Wellington.
An award-winning composer (NZSO Todd Young Composer Award 2011), Arna’s recent return to composition brings a fresh creative perspective to her teaching, offering students insights into the entire lifecycle of music, from creation to performance.
ABOUT ALEX
Hailing from Christchurch, Alex Morton’s musical journey began somewhat serendipitously when his eight-year-old arms proved better suited to the French horn than the trombone – a fortuitous twist of fate that set him on a remarkable path.
His training took him from a Bachelor of Music in Wellington to the prestigious Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) in Melbourne. It was in Australia’s vibrant music scene that he launched his professional career, securing contracts with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and appearing as Guest Principal Horn with Orchestra Victoria.
As a versatile musician, Alex has performed on international stages from London to Tokyo in a wide array of settings: as an orchestral musician, a chamber player, a soloist, and in ballet and opera pits, even captivating crowds of 25,000 at major music festivals.
A dedicated chamber musician, he is a member of the internationally-acclaimed Morton Trio with his wife, violinist Arna Morton, and pianist Liam Wooding. Now returned to Christchurch, Alex has cultivated a rich and multifaceted career. While he remains one of New Zealand’s most in-demand freelance horn players, he has also passionately embraced music education.
As a Performance Coach, he specialises in helping musicians excel under pressure, with a proven track record of success; his clients have won positions in professional orchestras, and in a single masterclass, 9 out of 12 students won music scholarships. Drawing on a decade of tertiary-level study with world-leading performers, he is committed to sharing this expertise with students in New Zealand and internationally online. Believing that passion is sustained by a balanced life, Alex can often be found bouldering, tramping, cycling, and enjoying quality time with his wife and dog.
Teaching Info
Here’s What To Look Forward To:
1:1 Premium Music Education
Be inspired learning from highly-qualified industry professionals, in person at our Christchurch studio or online!
Tailored Lesson Programmes
We take great care in tailoring personalised lesson and practice plans to meet the unique needs of each individual student. Students also get direct access to our unique practice philosophy, The HIIP Method™, which we weave into their lesson plan.
Supportive & Nurturing Mentorship
Quality music education is both incredibly rewarding and challenging, and it is our pleasure to guide our students through their musical journey with compassion and care, helping them to work towards their performance goals, whilst developing an abundance of transferable life skills along the way.
We are excited to guide you on your musical journey, if:
– You’re passionate about music.
– You’re open to trying new ideas and approaches.
– You’re craving more consistency and reliability in your technique.
– You’re ready to level-up your personal voice as a musician.
– You want to overcome the mental blocks that currently prevent you from enjoying your craft, be it practicing or performing.
– You want to fast-track your progress whilst building a sustainable practice routine that is both fun and challenging through Morton Music’s innovative practice approach, The HIIP Method™.
“Arna, I really appreciate everything that you have done to help me! You’re such a supportive teacher and have the best teaching approach that I have come across so far. I have definitely felt my own improvement and always enjoy coming to lessons!”
Petra Radmanovic | Christchurch, New Zealand
“I’ve so appreciated Alex’s enthusiasm and passion whilst tutoring my son. He took him from ‘ho hum’ to an A-Honours Pass in his latest AMEB exam. Better than that though, Alex’s approach and style has my son actually LIKING his music teacher! I also love the online Zoom lesson structure, which means I don’t need to be the taxi service, plus Alex can record the session, which enables us to review tricky segments. Thanks Alex!”
Beth Clayton | Sydney, Australia
Arna is a dedicated and encouraging teacher with a comprehensive teaching method. In the time that I’ve learned from her, my technique and musicality have vastly improved and I’ve achieved some really great results! --- [note from Arna] Chloe achieved an outstanding 143/150 for her 2022 Grade 8 Violin exam - congrats Chloe!
Chloe
If you’re doing the wrong thing, no amount of repetition will make it right. I took up the horn as a mature student. I entertained no fantasies about becoming a professional, but if something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. I got off to a good start, and was soon able to play in my community orchestra, but my progress stalled and I became discouraged. Last year I swallowed my pride, made some enquires, and contacted Alex Morton. Well done, me! Alex is a passionate horn player, obviously, but he’s also keenly interested in how people learn. He enjoys teaching. He’s shown me a whole new way to think about what I’m doing, and it’s an adventure. Among other things, those big problems are just small problems layered on top of each other. Changing old habits can be hard work, but when you get the right habit, the task is much easier. (It’s so unfair - the worst player might actually be working harder to achieve less than the best player). I’d recommend Alex if you’re an experienced player stuck on something specific, or if you’re a beginner, or if you’re seriously ambitious.
