Music Students To Show Off Talents During NZ Music Month
An opportunity to play with other musicians has lead a group of Unitec students forming a band and picking up a gig for New Zealand Music Month.
Zane Carey (guitar), Mohamed Lurman (drums), Chris Purchase (bass guitar) and Rima Cooper (guitar) make up ‘LM Quartet’ who will showcase their talents at the Blockhouse Bay Community Library on May 20 as part of the music month.
The group has been ‘jamming’ under the guidance of lecturer Opeloge Apulu Ah Sam, who set up the gig for the band.
Opeloge was approached by organisers of New Zealand Music Month to see if his own band would be interested in taking part in various concerts around Auckland.
Seeing an opportunity, he asked if there were any places available for his students to gain valuable experience which organisers were only too happy to oblige.
“You can practice for hours on end but you do a lot more learning by getting out there and performing to people,” says Opeloge. “That’s where you discover what works and what doesn't and develop from there as a musician, which is what I want for these guys to experience.”
Fortunately for the band, they don’t have to go far to jam as all are current students of the two music programmes run at Unitec Waitakere – the Certificate in Music (Introductory) and the Diploma in Contemporary Music.
They have also managed to recruit fellow student Sharlene Poloai to sing in the jazz/jazz fusion band.
Despite only been together for a couple of weeks, LM Quartet is looking forward to the upcoming concert.
For self-taught guitarist Zane Carey, it will be the first time he has played in a proper band.
A former landscape artist, 31-year-old Zane has always wanted to pursue his passion for music but didn’t know where to start – until he walked in to Unitec Waitakere and discovered the music programmes.
“I’ve had experiences jamming with other musicians before but nothing professional like this which is why I’m doing this programme,” says Zane. “It’s given me an opportunity to get to know other musicians and jam with them.”
Playing in a band again with talented musicians was a chance 33-year-old drummer Mohamed couldn’t refuse.
“I’ve always wanted to play professionally but wasn’t getting anywhere playing in garage bands. The problem with some of those bands is that there’s people in there who shouldn’t be playing but this is different because we all know how to play.”
Both Zane and Mohamed are keen to forge a career in the music industry and are planning to move on to the diploma once they have completed their certificate programme later this year.