UCOL's contemporary music performance students are heading off into the music world on their own - but first the group will put on one final performance.
Ten students from the one-year course will perform at the Whanganui Musicians' Club tonight.
Naumai Taitumu, who plays keyboard and sings, said the skills the course had taught were wide-ranging and had set them up to take several paths in the industry.
"It's taught me how to apply theory and work with other musicians more effectively," she said.
She said performance was firstly about being proficient at the instrument being played.
The course also taught the students about the business side of music, including contracts and setting up gigs.
"People think that Auckland is the place to be but we've got a higher percentage of musicianship here," Naumai said.
She hoped Wanganui people would come out and support the show.
Post-course, Naumai is keen to set up a home-based studio and would also like to be involved with charity and community-based performance.
Programme co-ordinator Lizzie de Vegt said the next course would start in February, with an audition being held in mid-December.
-The students of UCOL Certificate in Contemporary Music Performance is on at the Musicians' Club today at 8pm.