Maitland Grossman was one of 50 schools selected from almost 200 to participate in SongMakers – a national mentoring program run the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS).

The two day workshop provided year 10, 11 and 12 music students the opportunity to absorb as much as possible from the musicians and learn all about the art of songwriting.

The students then broke into small groups and put what they learnt to the test by creating and recording their own songs from scratch, which will be registered by APRA AMCOS.

Lior said the workshop empowered the students to create their own music and gave them the tools to be able to write songs.

He said the students went really well, and had the most eclectic musical tastes he had ever encountered.

Hunter said he hoped the program helped the students lose the fear of writing a song and taught them how to express themselves.

Maitland Grossmann music teacher Robb Dennis said it was a terrific opportunity for the students to work with top people in the music industry.

“To be able to work with that calibre of musicians is gold for us,” Mr Dennis said.

Year 12 student Hamish Cole said the initiative inspired them to write music and taught them there was more than one way to write a song.

APRA AMCOS Head of Member Services Group Dean Ormston congratulated Maitland Grossman on completing the program and said he couldn’t wait to hear the students’ songs.

 “For most of these young people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collaborate with and learn from some of the biggest names in music,” he said.

“It really fast-tracks students’ understanding of today’s contemporary music world and the steps needed for success.”

SongMakers 2016 marked the third year of the national program.