By Binta Jaiteh
An International Music School has been launched at Brusubi Phase 1, which is meant to support and promote music education for talented musicians and artists.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, president of Gambia Music Union, Momodou Sarr, said the school will help to enhance quality music education in this country.
“Over the years we have seen a lot of institutes of music ventured into establishment of music school but at the end of the day the problem having is always about sustainability. This music school is not just international but national and is important. Because the links that you are able to have with all level of institution across the world will add value to what we already have here,” he said.
“In this country, we have problem of instrument players you can realize that is the same cycle of musicians that will keep on playing in every artist performance. We need to change that scope as far as this school is concerned, they should be able to provide us with an opportunity to have as many instrument players as possible,” he said.
More so, “We need to have varieties of people that are into instrument playing, we also have issues with sound engineering all the features mentioned is an issue in this country, and if we want to grow our music the qualities should be available in the music sector,” he added.
Marco Link CEO of IMS said the school aims to providing quality education and it has experienced teachers from all over the world like Ghana, Nigeria and Europe as well.
“We believe that the development of quality education in educational system lies with commitment of the members’ quality while administration needs full resources hardworking and brilliant candidates,” he said.
According to the CEO their focus is to make their students skilful and successful professional as a strategy of practical classes, saying when he came to the Gambia, he always see great talent in Gambian artists and they want to use this opportunity for the Gambian artists to enable them cope internationally.
Hassoum Ceesay, director general of National Arts and Culture, said the project will help fill in a big gap in the music industry.
“I urge everyone who is interested in music to come and enroll quickly. We know there are a lot of tendency to learn it but is always there to strengthen yourself if you go into formal training,” he said.
He as well assured interested talented people of government support as scholarship will be available. He disclosed that Gambian artists are doing great individually and collectively.
