In a small shed on a far corner of the grounds at King's High School, the sound of banging, grinding, scratching, tooting and the occasional whistling has been heard over the years.
And now that the school's old bus garage has been converted into the music department's practice rooms, little has changed.
Principal Dan Reddiex said the school's music department used to consist of four prefabricated buildings in the middle of the school.
But following the Christchurch earthquakes, the Ministry of Education encouraged King's High School to donate four of its prefab buildings so that education could continue in schools with severely damaged buildings.
Two of those buildings were from the King's High School music department, and unfortunately, the school's generosity left music pupils short of facilities, Mr Reddiex said.
"The boys have been practising in every nook and cranny they can find on school grounds.
"It was nice to be able to help the schools in Christchurch get back on their feet, but it's been less than ideal for us."
So it was decided to renovate the school's bus garage - formerly home to the school's four minibuses.
Dust, diesel fumes and oil stains are now a distant memory.
Today, the facility is carpeted and relatively soundproofed, which meant the pupils did not need to hold back, he said.
"It's worked out well. It's isolated. It means they can really go for it."
