Taieri College is truly a school of rock.
The college has taken five of the 12 places in the 2015 Smokefreerockquest Otago regional final this Friday.
Taieri's head of music, Chrissy Cochrane, said performing was the best way to learn music.
''It's actually that I encourage the students to perform - it wasn't specifically for Rockquest.''
With a band entered from every year group, the competition is fierce, especially with brothers in different acts.
Year 9 band Beats Per Minute includes Josh Glennie, whose older brother, Alex, is also competing as part of Alex and the Lads, Taieri's year 12 finalist.
Taieri's year 10 entry is the Freakz, while Zodiac fills the year 11 spot.
Their solo-duo finalist is Two of Us, comprising year 13 pupil Haze Harrington and a pupil from another school.
''There's a fair amount of rivalry,'' Mrs Cochrane said.
Many senior pupils would use their Rockquest performances for their NCEA performance and composition exams, and pupils were encouraged to learn by performance.
- Greta Yeoman
