The recent Hawke's Bay High Schools Tour was a taste of life on the road for EIT music students.
Enrolled in the institute's Certificate in Contemporary Music Performance, the students formed into four bands to road-test their original compositions at lunch-time sessions at Karamu High School, Tamatea High School, Taradale High School and William Colenso College. During the week-long tour, the musos set up, performed and packed down like regular touring bands.
Lecturer Tom Pierard and learning facilitator Ron Kessels said the live performances didn't daunt the students, who had played gigs at Napier and Hastings venues and on the EIT campus as part of their study programme.
With classmate Jo Vrijs as compere, the bands each played for 10 minutes and enjoyed the lively audience feedback.
As the first year for the certificate nears an end, Mr Pierard and Mr Kessels feel well pleased with what's been achieved. Twenty-three students are close to completing the 34-week programme and, with performances videotaped during the year, they have seen their improvement.