Musicians Mentoring in Schools Programme 2010

Maisey Rika.

A new year, a new term and new songs! NZMC mentors out in schools in the first days...

Maisey Rika (accompanied by brother JJ) and Tama Waipara wowed parents and students at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Ara Whanui (Lower Hutt) on their first day back (4th FEB). Rushing from an interview for Good Morning TV, mentors, Maisey , JJ and Tama performed and spoke to the entire school for an hour before continuing the day working in small groups with students in years 8 to 10. Songs/Waiata were well on the way by the time the home-time bell went and the mentors went back Friday to work further with the students.

Maisey, an idol to these Tamariki, has been singing all her life, and at age 13 she began singing professionally. She recorded 'E Hine', a classic collection of traditional Maori songs. 'E Hine' went double platinum and also won Best Maori Language Album at the NZ Music Awards. Maisey was also nominated for Best Female Vocalist in 1998 at just 15 years old.

Her debut full-length album ‘Tohu' was released in 2009 to critical acclaim, and saw her take home the ‘Best Female Solo Artist' award at the recent Waiata Maori Music Awards, following a nomination for a Maioha award in the 2009 APRA Silver Scroll song writing competition.

Since returning home to Aotearoa, Tama has been part of the AK09 Festival with his original show, "Sir Plus and the Requirements". In 2009 he released a new album by the same title. He also lectures NZ Music for Unitec's contemporary music course. 2010 will be a busy year for Tama, touring the North Island with Maisey Rika this month and later as he branches out into theatre and musicals. He will appear in "Rent" at the Civic, then a play called "Raising the Titanics", a music festival in Prague in July as well as being very being a very popular and effective mentor in the Ministry of Education funded NZ Musician Commission's school mentoring programme.

CLICK HERE FOR THE APPLICATION FORM.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE MUSICIANS MENTORING PROGRAMME VIDEO

CLICK HERE FOR THE WRITE THE SONG OF NZ MUSIC MONTH 2010 ENTRY FORM