RECOGNISING the need for music in today’s society, the Foundation Seven, one of many music schools in Guyana, has graduated nearly 30 persons from a two-week music programme.

Established in 2008 with a strong mandate to train persons in the fundamentals of music, Foundation Seven has managed to invest the Guyanese society with versatile musicians who are all on the quest to lift Guyana’s standard of music.

The small graduation ceremony saw the graduands “lifting” the audience with their thrilling performances. During the course of the two-week programme, participants were given piano training as well as guitar, drum and voice training.

The graduating class was a mixture of children and elders; and Sharon Sulaman, Administrator of the Foundation, believes there is no age limit to learning music.

The Foundation is, however, not the only organisation that aims to embed musicians in the Guyanese society. Recently, the Republic Bank under its ‘RightStart’ Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme, graduated 130 youths from several regions across Guyana.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education has launched a four-week music workshop for primary school teachers with the aim of building capacity and developing the necessary skills to effectively deliver a music programme in primary schools.

These institutions are all geared at lifting the standard of the local music industry, since much focus is not being placed on the delivery of music in today’s society.
By Shivanie Sugrim

(Delano Williams photos)