Masterton Intermediate School [MIS] band – ‘What’s the name?’ – joined more than 20 other music groups from schools across the Wellington region to perform in a Battle of the Bands last week.
The event, organised this year by the Goodtime Music Academy, has been running for almost three decades, and MIS music tutor Elton Halford has been accompanying school bands to the event since 2000.
The event is an opportunity for the kids to perform with a full PA set-up and helps to boost the kids’ confidence, Halford said.
“It’s a group of kids who may not normally socialise together, coming together with the common goal to get out on
the stage and perform.
“Sometimes it’s not so much the music but learning to achieve and being comfortable with that,” Halford said.
Halford said it was a “real reward” watching the children perform.
“They’re really living their own experience,” he said.
“It’s really them finding it within themselves and that’s where the ultimate achievement is. I’m grateful to witness that, very grateful.”
Halford hopes to see more recognition of the arts across Wairarapa and would love to see a dedicated music venue open up for musicians of all ages to get together and jam out.
“Mental health and music are so intertwined,” Halford said.
Having a place to express yourself through music and performing would be “awesome”, he said.
