Mobile music box is a boost for musicians

Zeal Kapiti intern and events coordinator Sean Blunkell, left, manager David Orchard, centre, and music tutor Devon Welch in the Music Box.

An innovative new mobile music studio has been designed for Kapiti youth to help them uncover and embrace their musical talents.

The Music Box, a mobile music studio created and managed by Zeal Kapiti, is packed with hidden technology to give it maximum versatility and includes a range of equipment that is readily available for youth to get their hands on.

Made from warm birch and painted in a matte black, the popular new unit is fully lined and insulated, with built in LED lighting and seven instrument stations.

The concept, originally created by Zeal in the Hawke's Bay, was built inside Zeal Kapiti's Paraparaumu premise by manager David Orchard, who is a qualified joiner as well as youth worker.

After the unit's launch at the Otaki-Maori Racing Club last month, it was moved to the Otaki College grounds, where it stayed for a couple of weeks and ran two afternoons each week.

As part of the testing phase, the Zeal team worked on developing a tutoring structure and used the unit as a stage for college lunchtime events.

There, students got to test out the stations for keyboard, bass guitar, electric guitar, drums, acoustic electric guitar, beat making and DJing.

"With the help of volunteers and young people, we created Zeal's second satellite service unit as part of our partnership with Kapiti Coast District Council," Mr Orchard said.

"The purpose of the unit is to make music development mobile and provide opportunities for young people to access and learn an instrument.

"It's about sparking band development and connecting musicians, while providing a mobile performance space."

Thanks to additional funding from Wellington Community Trust and the Pelorus Trust, the music box was activated for the first time at Paraparaumu Beach's Maclean Park last week, where it ran from Monday to Friday as part of school holiday events.

As part of the initiative, eight young people signed up to work towards a performance event on Saturday evening at the park, where they performed alongside experienced local musicians Devon Welch, Duane Te Whetu and Zane Graham.

"With Zeal's youth development centre soon to be operational in Paraparaumu, having a mobile unit that can bring music development and performance opportunities to the wider Kapiti region is an essential part of connecting with the youth community."

Mr Orchard said the Music Box was built in response to youth surveys and consultation over the past five years across the district.

"Access to instruments and music development featured highly on all surveys undertaken, particularly in the outer edges of the Kapiti area. It's a great resource because it can also be used as a rehearsal space, recording space, or with the side fully open as a stage for performances."