Tyrone Dyer

Tyrone Dyer has been playing the drums since he was 10 years old but he never thought it was going to lead to a career. Until he studied at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.

Leaving school after gaining NCEA Level 2 in Year 12, Tyrone thought he wanted an electrical apprenticeship. But despite putting applications out to several businesses, he was told that he needed a qualification before they would hire him.

So, he started looking around for courses to study and came across the New Zealand Certificate in Music (Level 4) at Toi Ohomai. Tyrone says he had his interview a week before the course started and then moved to Mount Maunganui a day before his first class.

“It was all a bit of whirlwind but I have no regrets. The course was amazing and now I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”

Now, he’ll graduate with a New Zealand Diploma in Music (Level 5) and has been working at the Rockshop in Tauranga. 

He also performs in a few bands – Copper Feel, who create songs with psychedelic hit of funk, rock and reggae fusion; Matty & the Buxtons, who play a lot of music inspired by neo soul, R&B and reggae; and Cold Fruit Cup, who perform energetic pop punk and post hardcore.  

Tyrone says studying helped him gain the skills he needed to operate in the music industry.

“I owe it all to my tutors at Toi Ohomai, because I learned everything I needed to know to do what I’m doing now. I’m a drummer and know all about playing drums, but when it comes to the technical aspects of live sound and studio recording, I only learned those things when I studied. If I hadn’t done the course then I wouldn’t have my job.”