Music Crossroads Academy Malawi is hosting a musical celebration on Friday 2nd August 2013 at 2 pm in Area 23 at its training centre featuring talented musicians of its Professional Certificate Course in Music, including students and teachers as well as other groups like Konkalazi and Music Crossroads band that have built their careers at the training centre.
Friday’s concerts and jam session will be a great opportunity to witness the progress that has been achieved by the music students since the academy opened in April 2013. It currently trains 28 students, 10 young ladies and 18 men led by five music teachers imparting lessons in Rhythmic reading and writing, Music theory, Keyboard harmony, Choir and Body percussion and main lessons include classes in practicing of bass guitar, lead guitar, drums, voices and keyboard.
“This program is improving many young musicians. For example, Joan Mwale, a female lead guitar student, who only played two chords when she first came to the academy can now play more than ten advanced chords and perform with a full band,” says Blessings Nkhoma, a 31-year old lead guitar teacher and musician.
Being the first time such an initiative is introduced in Malawi, the Music Crossroads Academy is bridging the gap in music education while providing opportunities for young musicians and also supporting the development of Southern African music sector.
“The response from the public, people and students is amazing. The progress is above expectations. We are now in the second quarter of the first edition of the course and we have seen beginners becoming intermediate level musicians who can read and write music. This is a tremendous achievement for us and it gives hope for Malawi”, says Music Crossroads Malawi Director Gayighayi Matthews Mfune.
The MC Academy has also provided the first opportunity for most of its students to join a music course. “I had been learning from friends and always wanted to engage in real classes. I have learnt a lot at the academy, I can improvise in the guitar, use modes, and complex chords in ordinary folk songs to make them more exciting and unique”, says Jacob Jana, a 24-year student.
The academy runs a resource centre where staff, students, teachers and other Music Crossroads musicians can access books, computers and the internet. They have also been receiving volunteer training in IT and online tools, between 22nd July and 2nd August fromSpanish-based Miguel Carvalho, Music Crossroads International Communications Officer. “It has been exciting to see how everyone is so keen on growing their knowledge in IT and free online communication tools as these are so important nowadays. Likewise, there are many talented musicians playing various instruments here while in most cases they also only have access to them at Music Crossroads. This is an exceptional project for young musicians”, says Miguel Carvalho.
Miguel has also imparted a workshop in trumpet and will join Friday’s event, which will be opened by Konkalazi’s vibrating “Afro-funk fusion”. A five-piece band from Lilongwe, Konkalazi were the winners of the 2012 Music Crossroads International festival and toured Europe the same year. Their act will be followed by another group rehearsing at the Music Crossroads centre, the Music Crossroads band. Students and teachers will then take the stage at the jam session with other musicians. Many people are expected to come to this exciting event supporting today’s young Malawian talents.
