SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1982
2
MUSIC TRAINING FOR MORE PEOPLE
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WITH MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES AND EXPANDING FACILITIES, MORE YOUTHS IN HONG KONG CAN NOW RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL MUSIC TRAINING,
THROUGH ITS FIVE MUSIC CENTRES SET UP IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF HONG KONG, THE MUSIC OFFICE CURRENTLY PROVIDES INSTRUMENTAL TRAINING CLASSES FOR SOME 2 600 STUDENTS RANGING FROM AGES 6 TO 23, AT A NOMINAL MONTHLY FEE OF $10 EACH, TWO MORE CENTRES WILL BE READY SHORTLY FOR YUEN LONG AND HONG KONG EAST.
+WITH STEADY EXPANSION OF OUR FACILITIES AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF, WE HOPE TO DOUBLE OUR TRAINING CAPACITY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, AND HAVE MORE MUSIC CENTRES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, MR THOMAS WANG, THE ASSISTANT MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR (PROFESSIONAL), SAID.
ESTABLISHED IN 1977, THE MUSIC OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE TO PLAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND PROMOTING PUBLIC INTEREST IN MUSIC. IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR THE GOVERNMENT SPENT OVER $13 MILLION TO FINANCE THE OFFICE'S BROAD RANGE OF ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMES. AND FOR 1982-83 A SUM OF $17 MILLION HAS BEEN PROVIDED.
AT THE MOMENT, THE MUSIC OFFICE ADMINISTERS AND TRAINS OVER 20 CHOIRS, ORCHESTRAS AND BANDS, INCLUDING HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA A AND B, HONG KONG YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA AND HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONIC BAND.
+STUDENTS UNDERTAKE INTENSIVE AURAL TRAINING AND TAKE COURSES ON MUSIC APPRECIATION AND THEORIES. THEY LEARN TO PLAY WIND, STRING AND CHINESE ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTS, MR WANG SAID.
FOR PARTICULARLY TALENTED STUDENTS THE OFFICE CONDUCTS INDIVIDUAL LESSONS TO TAP THE IR FULL POTENTIAL. IT ALSO PROVIDES SPECIAL CLASSES FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, AS WELL AS FOR ADULTS WITH SPECIAL MUSIC INTERESTS.
AS PART OF ITS COMPREHENSIVE, ON-GOING TRAINING PROGRAMMES, IT ALSO ORGANISES YOUTH MUSIC CAMPS, INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES AND MASTER CLASSES AND SEMINARS GIVEN BY VISITING LEADING MUSICIANS.
MR WANG POINTED OUT THAT MUSIC WAS GAINING INCREASING RECOGNITION IN HONG KONG.
+THIS HAS MUCH TO DO WITH THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS' UNDER- STANDING THAT MUSIC CAN REFINE AND MODIFY PEOPLE'S CHARACTER. THEY ARE WILLING TO LET THEIR CHILDREN TAKE UP INSTRUMENTAL TRAINING AS PASTIMES TO KEEP THEM OFF THE STREETS, HE ADDED.
HE EXPRESSED