Gunnedah youth have been learning the art of playing the didgeridoo.
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Tamworth man Mark Atkins has been visiting St Mary's College and St Xavier's Primary School once a week to teach students how to play the instrument, which is synonymous with Indigenous culture.
The lessons are free, thanks to JobLink Plus, but are only offered to male students because playing the didgeridoo is "mens' business", Mr Atkins says.
"More women play didgeridoo in Amsterdam than Australia," he said.
"Didgeridoo is slowly coming to the forefront of other instruments."
Mr Atkins said he had been teaching the students about the historical and cultural significance of didgeridoos, and how to make specific sounds.
He has been playing the didgeridoo since the late 1980s and has toured nationally and internationally the past 30 years.
Mr Atkins said it was good to get youth learning hands-on skills in the age of screen time.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Focus teacher, Sam Kennedy, said the lessons started at St Mary's a year ago and were introduced at St Xavier's when students showed "a great interest" after a demonstration at the end of last term.
At St Mary's, students started out using poly pipe and are now using didgeridoos purchased by the school. They will even show off their news skills at some upcoming events.
St Xavier's' student Olly Wilson said it was "cool to do something Aboriginals do in their culture" and "it's fun".
Fellow student Adam Veli-Gold said he liked being able to "do what my ancestors did".
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JobLink Plus chief executive officer Christine Shewry said they employed Mr Atkins a few years and "we have every intention of supporting [the initiatives] for as long as Mark is willing to do the work".
"We feel quite seriously blessed and privileged to support Mark in the work he does," she said.
"He's an outstanding musician, world-class, ... and a wonderful teacher."
Ms Shewry said Mr Atkins travels all over the region visiting towns including Tamworth, Duri, Tintinhull and Muswellbrook.
She said the lessons were offered to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and if it helped in "closing the gap", it would be "outstanding".
