More than 100 students from throughout New Zealand came together at the weekend to learn the ins and outs of the music industry.
The Youth and Adults in the Music Industry (YAMI) SouNZ Summit celebrated its 10th year with workshops and concerts held over two days across several venues in Wānaka.
The summit was started a decade ago by Lynne Christie, former head of music at Mt Aspiring College, to help young people understand the music industry.
Her vision was to create a space where young, aspiring musicians could learn technical skills while also getting practical insights on how to navigate the industry.
Over the past two days, students accompanied by their music teachers took part in workshops taught by specialists in various facets of the industry including song writing, lighting technology and managing money.
Event manager Celine Van der Eecken said the event offered students a deeper dive into aspects of the music industry which may not be covered in schools.
"There’s the workshops that are related to the music industry, about how to be in the music industry, and how to operate in the music industry.
"That is less touched on in the schools," she said.
This year’s summit hosted between 120 and 130 students, from Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and other parts of the country.
The weekend started with song writing and singing workshops taught by experienced New Zealand musicians including Gin Wigmore and Lily Shaw.
Throughout the day students also learnt more about beat-making, choir singing and how to put together an album.
Production manager and Mt Aspiring College head of music Matt Doyle said the summit continued to adapt to changes in the music industry.
When it first began, some of the summit’s workshops focused more heavily on how to put an album together, however, tutors now also focused on creating playlists for online platforms such as Spotify.
Overall, the summit’s purpose of giving students an extra edge into the industry remained intact.
"I think it’s come a long way," Ms Van der Eecken said.
"But the core has always been the same ... helping people who are interested in the music industry get into the music industry."
Each day ended with a concert in which students and musicians performed, showcasing the results of the weekend.
