The ONLY music school in SVG that offers:
|
Themes Music SchoolMy heart and desire is to help develop a sense of national pride, community, diligence, and efficiency in our youth, aiding them to become better citizens of our nation. Education is key in raising our youth today and it would be my joy to partner with you here in St. Vincent to promote and sponsor the cultural, social, and artistic development of our youth.
Education can achieve many goals. Education is not only a directive for the acquirement of jobs but also for the success of a nation on a social, economic, cultural, and holistic level. Education can change the belief system, and attitudes of a nation. Education can be a support in aiding the removal of diseases to society such as prejudice, sexism, and classism. Education can promote wellness, and keep our young out of situations that engender the need for imprisonment or capital punishment. There is no all-encompassing topic in education for all these purposes except that of the arts and especially music. Music demands the necessity of mutual respect, community, discipline and responsibility, self-respect, determined and hardworking character, goal oriented thinking, cultural assimilation and so much more. One cannot create any form of art without being keenly aware of one’s own body and the signals it provides for the state of one’s health. Vocal, theatre and dance teachers know this all too well. Total wellness is a consistent concern for artists. A people without an efficient mode to disseminate their culture will lose their identity and may eventually be unable to communicate their contribution and uniqueness to the world. God made it so clear the need for the passing on of a nation’s history when He demanded that for Israel in song, drama, and the telling of stories. Our young people need an efficient, deliberate, direct attempt to give them a place of belonging; this would needs include national pride. We all know that everything cannot happen at once. We need to believe in our youth and begin with a baby step towards a cause; a cause that could positively and most pronouncedly evolve our local culture and therefore our economic and social standing here in the West Indies. Local and en masse support of our Vincentian artists, and artisans will not burgeon overnight; however, we can make room for them and create space for the training of new artists, musicians, craftsmen, visual artists, dancers…, who will hold the baton of our unique culture for the generations to come. Our young people, and the parents of our young people, need to see the backing for self-sustaining economic opportunities in the arts. If I would dare respectfully say, our creative and artistic children are being marginalized in our society today. They have no serious stable vocational outlets for their God-given abilities and potential. Furthermore, our nation is suffering for it. Let me acknowledge here, that the talent in St. Vincent is so obvious and prominent, that we still have great artists in all of the areas already discussed. But, if one were to ask them, they would lament their lack of serious training. They want all of the tools but we are not giving them what they need to be great. They make do, some don’t really bother with “formal training”; but what could we do as a talented people with all the tools in the toolbox? Talented children do not get pushed because the parents do not see a “future” for their abilities. Youth who demonstrate excellence in labs and the sciences should not be forced to settle for a lifetime of retail. Why should they? Yet, we do this to the artistic children almost all the time. We love our children; we are just doing the best we can with what we’ve got. But, we can have more. If I may continue to be direct, would you imagine with me a society where young artistic children are trained and immediately placed into paying positions. Young musicians can start performing and teaching by age 16 and be professionals by the ages of 18-21. What if there was one place where the specific needs of artists to perform, practice, and disseminate their art are met? A school where the curriculum and testing are high standard; where students will not have any problems passing the CSEC music exam by the early age of 12 or the ABRSM Diploma exam by age 16. In large groups, these locally in training and trained artists can have productions, concerts, competitions, festivals, open art sales, and so much more well timed throughout the year, all from our indigenous youthful talents. With the International Airport opened, it is now so much easier for our young people to travel and tour, generating revenue for their music, theatre, and dance productions. My hope is that part of the school’s program would be the classical music of countries outside of Europe. Our young people will be exposed to other cultures, which would allow for a greater understanding of our own, and better relations with others outside of our own. What I propose to you is a conservatory of the arts. The education goal is still foremost; and, building towards such a cause will take simple steps with serious teaching and training. I believe that we can accomplish much of the large scope of this vision. Sincerely, Ms Ruth-Ann Lewis, MMUS |