This week NZ musicians Jed Parsons and Katie Thompson came to Roncalli College to mentor music students from six local South Canterbury schools to pass on their knowledge and skills of songwriting, performance and the music industry in a two day workshop generously funded by the NZ Music Commission.

Local Music teachers collaborated for the following schools to work together. Timaru Girls’ High School, Timaru Boys’ High School, Mountainview High School, Opihi College, Geraldine High School, and Roncalli College. It was great to see students making new friends through music and sharing their songs.

They covered different topics, including 'Songwriting tips for developing your ideas', 'tips to combat writers block', 'song structure and the use of different sections' and stage presence with crowd rapport.