By Samar Tahoun
When we think of music, we tend to be reminded of festivities, driving around in the car, and fun events. Would a wedding even be possible without music? However, music has not always been associated with academia. The fact is, music has a major impact on our lives in more ways than we actually realize.
If life was without music things would be a little strange. French poet Victor Hugo said, “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which impossible to be silent.” Not only is music enriching to the soul and heart; but its benefits also extend to an intellectual level. Research has shown that music is an excellent way of enhancing motion, memory, intellectual and mental development, as well as coordination.
A young Kuwaiti woman, Fajer Al Mazidi, and her Piano teacher, Ph.D.Prof. Cezary Owerkowicz from Poland, understood the power of music and came together with a shared goal in mind: to reach out to their society through music. This goal was translated into reality with their combined efforts to successfully open the Kuwait Music Academy, which officially opened in September of this year.
Mazidi and Owerkowicz truly appreciate the art of music and they are hoping to reach out to society through this passionate appreciation. When asked about the rather odd union of former student from Kuwait and teacher from Poland allying to start the first official music academy in Kuwait, Owerkowicz said, “Music is a magical and universal language.”
The Kuwait Music Academy is open for enrollment to Kuwaitis and expats of all age groups. While the oldest student is 65 years of age, the youngest student is only four years old! The academy offers classes in piano and vocals; however they intend to expand to offer a broader range of classes in music. The academy caters to individuals who are interested in pursuing music professionally, as well as to those who are simply practicing it for pleasure.
Those who are looking to follow music on a professional level have come to the right place, as the academy is very selective of the music teachers they hire – something they take pride in. The academy also offers certifications that allow their students to easily apply to prestigious music schools around the world. The certificates are obtained after students have gone through the required courses and have successfully completed international examinations held from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music based in London, United Kingdom. Many former students of the Academy have gone to study in famous music schools like the Conservatoire in Paris, France.
The academy believes that the element of competition can prove to be a rather useful tool for driving students into harnessing their talent up to its maximum potential. Staying true to that belief, the academy encourages their students to join music competitions in Kuwait and the Gulf region. Heui Sung Kim, a student of the academy, has won several music competitions that were held on a local and regional level.
This is a great effort for Kuwait as the academy is the first, and only, institution solely dedicated to musical education and nurturing the talents of people in Kuwait. Many people ask around and try to find places in Kuwait that offer any form of musical education; let it be violin, vocal, or dance lessons, all of which are not easy to come by in Kuwait. The academy will be a great gateway to many individuals who share the same goals as the founders of this invaluable institution but never took the first steps towards implementation. The Kuwait Music Academy has reached a major milestone by taking such an initiative.
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