But for Nhill music sensation Eliza Creek, "online learning" has long been a part of her vocabulary.

Eliza, 17, has never had a face-to-face flute lesson, instead learning the woodwind instrument online.

The lack of in-person lessons however hasn't held her back, as Eliza won the 2020 Newsboys Foundation Regional Music Award this week.

The prestigious award gives Eliza the chance to brush shoulders with some of Melbourne's finest musicians on an all-expenses-paid week-long trip next year.

"I'm very happy and really excited to have won the award," Eliza told the Mail-Times.

"It's very exciting that I get the chance to go down to Melbourne and see behind the scenes of the music industry. I can't wait."

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Eliza, however, said the online lessons she takes with Queensland Symphony Orchestra's Kate Lawson, and the support she receives from Nhill College's Catherine Bates were completely adequate.

"I haven't had the face-to-face flute lessons, and apparently past winners have had lessons and played in orchestras, whereas I haven't," she said.

"I've been told by a few people that I have done something amazing, but I don't know; I'm fine with being online. I haven't found it that much of a challenge."

Eliza started playing the flute nearly six years ago after hearing the instrument live for the first time.

"I heard the flute one day and I just loved the sound of it," she said.

"I used to play piano but I never really sparked with the piano, whereas I just really love playing the flute."

Newsboys Foundation CEO Sandy Shaw said the award was "life-changing and career-changing" for many young winners.

Jeparit's Charlotte Kube won the inaugural award in 2015 and is now studying at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

While it opens doors for Eliza, she said she wasn't quite sure what the future holds.

"I certainly didn't expect (winning the award) to be this big, or to have this much publicity. But I'm just trying to enjoy it," she said.

"This definitely helps me develop my flute playing a lot, but I haven't really made much of a decision, in terms of what I want to do in the future.

"I would definitely love to teach the flute to younger people - it's such a nice instrument, I would love teach it."

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