Mason Maraku reckons he has been playing the drums for "about 100 weeks" and his dad bought him a small kit when he was just 2.
However long he has been playing, the 11-year-old was good enough to win the best drummer award at the Rockshop Bandquest regional finals in Hawke's Bay last week.
And Mason's band - the 8 Melodies of Rutherford Junior High in Whanganui - brought home the prize for best group.
![Winning musicians 8 Melodies are Kalani Ranganui (left), Isaac Waitokia-Saggers, Seini Baleinukulala, Mason Maraku, Febelyn Kitongan, Summa Arai and Oceania Marino. Photo / Bevan Conley](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/SBVTMZCOM6DG7OSJUH53QLLZE4.jpg?auth=cfe61df7a810c883397c27a11b24a4399a4c68f45696f2e3930b1e8380e31cc9&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
"There were eight of us and one guy left but we decided to keep the name," said keyboard player Febelyn Kitongan.