Guitarist mentors local rock stars
From left: Fionn Murphy, Ryan Robertson, Andrew Mason, Shane South, Mike Nyland (tutor).
Last week, the room at the back of the Work Centre was turned into a music studio for local rock stars. Professional musician Mike Nyland, from the Wellington band Sons of Midas, returned to the Bay for the second time to run a now-popular music course.
It was important, he said, to give young musicians practise techniques and to help them develop improved musicianship within an existing band.
“I work with them individually and also with people who are already in groups. They work with original music and I help them with suggestions on how to improve this and that and give them tools on how to rehearse together. Most of the kids I saw last time I was here, but there was also a whole bunch who did not come to the first course. What I tell them all is that they have to practise. This is so important and some of people I had for the second time would have really benefited if they had done more practice.”
Mike became interested in music at a young age and has been playing with Sons of Midas for the last three years.
“When I was five we lived in a really small house and I had the family’s record player in my bedroom and listened to my mum’s records. When I was eight I watched a Blues Brothers movie and this really switched me on and kicked music into further gear for me. Then I got my brother’s guitar and taught myself to play, and when I was 13 I started recording music, borrowing gear from a local music store.”
At 14, Mike joined his first band and, now in his early thirties, has been into music ever since. He makes a living out of music by a combination of playing gigs, tutoring and audio engineering.
He praised community recreation worker Dave Myall, who initially got the ball rolling. “Dave is such an awesome hard worker and so passionate about helping the community. He is out there every day making things happen.”
Dave said the music course eventuated when two requests came at the same time: one from Mike about running a music course in the Bay, and another from youth wanting a professional music tutor. Dave secured funding from Creative Communities, and was pleased with the interest that followed.
“Mike said he was very impressed with the ability of the people on the course and also with the improvement and progress the people have made who had come on the first summer course.”
Bass guitarist Johnny Fersterer, who returned for this second course with his fledgling band, said Mike had been an encouraging and positive influence.
“He is more a guide than a tutor and he taught me a lot. I am not so good with notation and he helped me with that, and this has really improved my role in the band. He also looked at some of our songs and gave us some advice on how to improve those. It was really useful to have a musician like Mike to work with.”
For enquiries about future music tuition with Mike Nyland, ring Dave Myall on 525 8876.
Ina Holst
