GLF Outreach Programme
Empowering children to use musical instruments as modes of communication – The Music Project joined The Fairway Galle Literary Festival once again for a harmonious outreach programme.
The Music Project currently works with 350 children from the North and South of Sri Lanka, children from tender ages of around of 8 and 9 years progressing from recorder to violin, cello, flute, trumpet, guitar and a variety of percussion. A carefully structured programme, it has been operating for the past six years. Currently, The Music Project hosts bi-weekly classes in schools with carefully trained teachers and volunteers. The children are then given the opportunity to take part in a public performance, many young musicians gaining experience and being empowered in demonstrating their musical skills.
The project uses music as a link language between the north and the south. This year we were thrilled to be invited for their outreach program in association with the Galle Literary Festival. At this year’s programme we met the more experienced students of Grade 7 and above, the hall filled with the eager and excited faces of 330 students at the Martin Wickramasinghe House & Folk Museum. The children who were warmly welcomed in the morning with the projects warm up “Hello Song” were then divided into three sections of 100 children and were shown various fun activities throughout the day.
The three core activities were namely; a “Tour of the Museum”, “Power of Play” – a puppet show by Sulochana Dissanayake and a “Canvas Project”.
We arrived just in the midst of Sulochana animatedly narrating a story to some amused kids with her friendly puppets. Filled with music from a guitar and tambourine – the story came to life as children squealed and cheered on their inanimate friends.
Speaking to a group of young students from North Central schools we learnt that this shy group was made up of a classroom of 17 students and one teacher who came down for the outreach program. Although the young lads were not forthcoming with their response a group of eager young ladies decidedly informed us that the program was “fun” and “good”.
These young students who have been with the Music Project from a tender young age showed great prowess in a variety of instruments – the girls informing us that they all played the guitar, trumpet, flute and violin. Over the years they have learnt to master a myriad of scores from numerous Hindi songs to even the theme song of the Johnny Depp famous “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Their school has gone on to compete at National Levels competitions coming first in recorder in 2016 and placing second in 2017.
The afternoon events were some animated storytelling by Ameena Hussein and Sam Perera. Speaking to chief guest of the evening James Russo, the Director of Press, Cultural and Educational Affairs from the US embassy, we learnt that the Embassy’s support to the Music Project initiative is parallel to the goals of US administration. “We are always looking to fund opportunities like women’s empowerment, youth development, reconciliation and economic opportunities for the disadvantaged,” Russo states. This was his first time visiting The Music Project initiative and he was thrilled with how the project’s goals resonate with the Embassy’s goals. “Music is the ultimate source of untainted knowledgeable education,” Russo shares.
The energy of the evening was lively as was the chatter and camaraderie of kids who seemed to remember their friends from past workshops and programs with the Project. The atmosphere resonated well with the initiative as the kids shared in various activities that brought out much laughter and pearly white smiles.
