Horsham College music teacher Nick Shirrefs said the event was a chance for students to extend their skills and interact with students from other schools. 

“The students are in year seven to eight and, normally, it is their first experience playing in a band.

“However, by getting involved, each student ends the day as a better musician,” he said.

Students from Horsham College, Stawell Secondary College, Nhill College and Ballarat Phoenix College participated. 

Mr Shirrefs said students learned five to six songs in their own time before coming together for practice and a performance.  

“The students put a lot of pressure on themselves to get it right,” he said. 

“By the end of the day they come out on a high that lasts for weeks because it is rewarding when they get it right.” 

Mr Shirrefs said it was important for students to learn an instrument.

“Personally, it would be a shame to see the instruments fade away in regional areas. Schools need to be encouraging students to pick up the skill,” he said. 

Mr Shirrefs said the Mega Music Day had grown bigger than organisers had originally expected. 

“We stopped our music camp in Halls Gap because numbers were too low, but we are pleased to see how many students are now interested in learning an instrument,” he said.