Creative Feel July 2018

Page 62

DURBAN MUSIC SCHOOL:

Providing first-class

music education

WORDS: KIM MATTHEWS, CEO, DURBAN MUSIC SCHOOL

W

hen I look at the Durban Music School (DMS),

find that when a child who has very little materially and very

I see a tiny glimpse of what is possible when

little support from adults, is given an expensive instrument

people who are passionate come together.

and we say to them that we feel they are worthy and we

Particularly with sponsors who understand

trust them, the child’s self-esteem skyrockets and they look

the importance of music education for all children in South

after their instruments with great care. Most children come

Africa, be they orphaned, disadvantaged financially, or

to the school when they are around 12 to 14 years old. We

physically disabled. The school is a non-profit organisation

assess them very carefully and identify those who we feel

that has Section 21 Company status and is run by a board of

will be successful as musicians later in life. We pay for their

directors with Bongani Tembe as its chairperson.

practical and theory lessons, and exams. They also receive

We are able to give 611 orphaned or vulnerable children

transport money, sheet music and ensemble training. The

the opportunity to receive first-class music education by

exams that the students do are internationally recognised so

giving them full music bursaries. They receive everything

that they can use this accreditation if they want to apply for

they need to learn to play an instrument and are then

a job or study further.

equipped with the skills they need to find employment in

It doesn’t matter how good a musician a person is, if

the industry. The children receive the instrument of their

they have been trained by an educator on a one-on-one

choice, which they are expected to take home and practise

basis in a studio and have never had ensemble training,

on every day. Some instruments are very expensive, but I

they won’t be able to get a job in an orchestra, band or

62 / Creative Feel / July 2018


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