Next Wednesday EIT Learning facilitator Ron Kessels will be mixing sound for students in the new Contemporary Music Performance programme at their second public performance at The Cabana in Napier.
The following day he takes off for a European festivals tour with “Mr Creedence Clearwater Revival” John Fogerty. Ron will be doing the onstage sound for the tour, which ends with Fogerty supporting “The Boss”, Bruce Springsteen at his London gig at Hyde Park.
“I tell the students at the end of the day it’s the same whether you play for 50 people or 50,000, you never know who is listening so give it everything you have.” says Mr Kessels who spent four years touring all over the world with high profile bands like Snow Patrol. He says he is happy to be on tour again and keeping vital industry contacts going. “It’s good for me and EIT if I can keep a foot in both camps, music industry and education. I will be keeping a diary on tour to feedback to students and incorporate into my lessons.”
Ron is part of a team of music industry specialists who form the core of the new Certificate in Contemporary Music Performance (MAINZ) programme which aims to develop students’ performance skills and knowledge, preparing them for work in the music industry.
Ron says along with the industry experience of the tutors the course has a focus on drawing experience from both national and local industry speakers. To kickstart their hiphop bands the students had a workshop with emerging Flaxmere hiphop artist Stephen Tanekaha Harmer aka MC Tipene. His song “west side hori” is one of four of the tracks from his debut release “Tautoko Fundraiser E.P” that made the “TOP 5” on acclaimed NZ Hiphop RnB website “ayebro.co.nz”.
Ron says Tipene is a great role model for the EIT students, “Just as Springsteen is widely known for his brand of heartland Americana rock centred on his native New Jersey upbringing, Tipene’s music is from here and reflects his life growing up in Flaxmere and the discovery of his passion for music.”
The twenty-four EIT students have formed four bands and will be performing a mix of hiphop covers and originals. During the EIT programme they learn about and perform in a variety of musical styles, including homegrown and reggae. Their first Cabana concert showcased the blues and Ron says the students really appreciated the public’s enthusiastic response.
“The Cabana concert will be great for anyone wanting an after work drink and to hear some of the great talent coming out of EIT. The hip-hop genre is dear to the hearts of many of the students. It’s public and free, so come and tell your friends!” The EIT hiphop concert will be from 5.30pm to about 7pm Wednesday 20th June at The Cabana.