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Jump to > Coke Smokefree Rockquest 2003 | History | Industry input | Winners and awards

Industry input

Coke Smokefree Rockquest is the best way to learn the basics of being in a band.
Brad Carter of Steriogram

Band partnering in schools

The band partnering scheme gives young musicians – the future of the New Zealand music industry – the opportunity to learn directly from bands that are currently involved, and achieving, at local and national levels of the music industry. This initiative was made possible by a partnership between Rockquest Promotions Ltd, the Music Industry Commission, and the Ministry of Education.

Partner bands were placed beside the first and second place-getters at each of the 20 regional finals in 2003. The partnering bands included:
  • Elemeno P
  • Anika Moa
  • Wash
  • Motherguru
  • 1QA
  • Autozamm
  • Evermore.

Benefits all round

This project has proven to be beneficial to all parties involved. The student bands gained exposure to the reality of the music industry, as well as gathering new skills and knowledge that is not necessarily available through their school music departments. They were made aware of potential employment scenarios, and this has led to additional gigs.

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Shaun Feehan
Shaun Feehan

The opportunity to work with younger bands and schools not only gives the partner bands employment, but also the chance to widen their skills. They often perform at the Rockquest regional finals.

Feedback from partner bands, schools, and competing bands has been supportive, and the music industry will no doubt benefit from an influx of bands better prepared to handle the realities of becoming professionals. Recommendations are being made to increase the benefits of the scheme in the future.

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Anika Moa case study

Part of the partnering scheme involved flying Anika Moa back to her old school, Hornby High School in Christchurch. There she talked with, and performed alongside, the Coke Smokefree Rockquest band from the school, and a singer/guitarist from Kaitangata School in Otago.

In honour of her return, the Principal closed the school early to enable the entire school to attend the performance and witness her success story.

Role models and celebrities

The bands that acted as role models by performing in the 2003 national and/or regional finals were:
  • Elemeno P
  • King Kapisi
  • The Have
  • DJ Raw
  • Autozamm
  • Wai 100%
  • Motherguru
  • Wash.
Judges for the 2003 competition included:
  • King Kapisi
  • Arthur Baysting
  • Brendan Smythe
  • Malcolm Wellsford
  • Cath Anderson
  • Lani Purkis of Elemeno P
  • Hera Hjatirdottir.

Pacifier singer Jon Toogood made a guest appearance at the Wellington semi-final to meet, listen to, and talk to members of the competing bands.

Mike Puru of Flipside and Dougie Mackie from The Edge featured as MCs, and respected music industry icon Francesca Rudkin produced the television show.

next: Winners and awards

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