Supporting 20 talented students to study music

To all our supporters,

We bring you some news from the beneficiaries of the programme. We have had a few new entrants onto the programme.

Allan is a young man who loves music, and plays the Tenor Horn in the Brass band he belongs to, loving music through being able to perform at various functions. As part of the M-LISADA project, he has had music around him for a while, and wanted very much to advance himself and get certificates and progress in Theory and in practical. He is hoping to get distinctions in the upcoming exams. In his spare time he loves to play Basketball.

Allan is progressing well on the tenor horn music and is working towards his exams.

Bruce (Tenor Horn)who plays the E flat Horn shared his story with us;

“I remember, M-LISADAband came to school one day, and all the students were rushing to welcome them and I wanted to be part of this group. So I went and approached the band director (Segawa Bosco), and told him that I would also like to learn. Fortunately, he allowed me to try out the trumpet and I was able to make a sound out of it, so he confirmed me that I could be able to play. He told me to come to the office if M-LISADA and I was admitted and I managed to get a chance to be paid my fees since my mum was unable to pay anymore, my father having passed away earlier.

I finally specialised in playing the E- flat horn which am still currently playing. What makes me want to study music further is because I want to become a great music teacher teaching in good schools like Kampala Music School and many more. I also want to reach out to many disadvantaged children in Uganda through teaching them music freely.”

Bruce has improved greatly on the tenor horn and works diligently in his practice of technique and tonal work. He also recently played in a concert with the Kampala Symphony Orchestra, where he was a very capable 3^rdHorn.

Disan. (Euphonium) is an 18-year old young man from Nsambya, who is a former street boy, who had no parents to look after him. He joined M-LISADAwhere he was introduced to music, and he now sees a future ahead of him, with the possibility of a career ahead of him. As a musician, he sees this as an opportunity to extend his musical talent to use music to transform the lives of children and other people in Africa. He was inspired largely by the how music connected people’s lives and he wants to continue to pursue music.

“I would like to achieve my skills in conducting and teaching and other credentials like certificates, degree, diploma, PHD, Masters and more.”

Disan is steadily improving and progressing well in his technical studies and is a promising student. 

Emmanuel (Trumpet)

He plays in the M-LISADA  senior band and has also been playing with The Kampala Symphony Orchestra where he plays the Bb-Trumpet and Soprano cornet as principal instruments. In March he sat his Grade 5 ABRSM Theory exam and he achieved 82%, a merit. Emmanuel shares more of his story below; 

“I started music in 2008, I grew up in a family of 8 and am the 3rd, where my Dad was a musician in the police band and so I enjoyed always watching the band practicing every morning. I asked Dad if I could try to learn too, "I will teach you soon", he replied. From then I started waiting day to day. One day as I was home in the barracks, there was a marching band of young boys marching through and I was surprised young people of my age playing instruments while marching, I followed up to the venue! I met one of the players he was called Alex, I asked him the way I could join them and also requested to try out the trumpet as they were at rest, he let me try and I tried to force out sound from it, hahaa it wasn't the perfect sound but when I got out the sound, I thought in my mind that I have learnt so am ready to join. I went back home, told Dad that I have tried the trumpet and I can play it. He then went to their band store and signed out the instrument and so I tried this time but the sound wasn't the same so I got a bit disappointed. But that wasn't the end, he said "Emma its okay you are going to learn it", I was happy, so we started the practice, it was harsh but was the best for me to learn quickly. I did daily practice even when he wasn't around so I was just reviewing! That's how I started the career and in a year it became a talent as I got much interest in music. He took me to join a band called M-LISADA when I met new friends and continued with the music, and through music that I got sponsorship throughout my primary and high school level last year 2018. 

What inspires me every day to continue with my music and trumpet are their successful players like the late  Hugh Masekela from South-Africa, Louis Armstrong, Rex Richardson from America and Alison Balsom OBE from U.K who is a lady, so whenever I listen to her recordings like the Haydn Concerto in Eb, she sounds nice trumpet so I also practice hard to see that I play like her. She is a great trumpet player.”

Thanks for reading my story, well that's how I started music and joined the band and also what inspired me.”

Emma has great enthusiasm in learning more about different rythms, whole tone scales, breath controls and is working on Hadyn’s concerto in Eb. He is working hard towards doing Grade V ABRSM theory exams next year. 

St. Mary Kevin (Violin Groups of 5)

This term has ended well. The violin classes started on February 21^stwith weekly group classes taught by Samuel Kikomeko. The term started with great momentum, with groups of 5, as he introduced the learning objectives for the term. These were willingly welcomed by the students with an emphasis on maximum discipline, proper instrumental keeping and regular practice.

One of the groups was a new group, made of members from P.3. The four groups are pictured below in class. The term ended with a small ensemble that performed and this led to inspiration of other pupils in instrumental lesson.

To all our supporters,

We bring you some news from the beneficiaries of the programme

St Mary Kevin School

Recent donations have meant that some more persons could be put onto the scheme at St. Mary Kevin School. The students out at St. Mary Kevin have already been a part of the KMS family, and traditionally been funded by Strings for Uganda, and another donor, who sadly has not been able to continue. However to enable the students at St Mary Kevin to be able to continue they are now supported through our Global Giving Campaign. The 27 students who have been studying and learning with us are a delight. 

This programme started in 2013 has seen quite a few students go through its ranks. Initially financed by Strings for Uganda and the Sainsbury Charitable trust, recent contributions by Rachel Ellis in a fundraising concert have enabled the programme to expand to 6 groups of 5 taught together in group sessions by Sam Kikomeko. The school as a whole is very supportive of music programmes, and have other initiatives as well, but this is one they venture through KMS.

The students, mostly the young beginners, have a great and positive attitude towards the class. There is a high enthusiasm level from the Primary three students they are eager and find it fun and educative to have music included in their daily routine and weekend hence love to practice

Some of the challenges that the programme has had is that some of students have had to drop out because they live far away from the school, and therefore are unable to be there for practice or stay longer should the programme end up being longer as it is at times. Sickness at times makes lesson attendance irregular. They are also challenged at times for other needs, many of which the school works hand in hand with the community to fulfil including clean water, personal hygiene. The school works hard to keep the cost of school fees low but even then, some students still struggle. 

Gerson

Gerson continues to work towards attaining growth in performance as he is planning to sit for his DipABRSM in performance in Guitar next year, to become Uganda’s first ever holder of this Diploma come that time. He hopes that he will be able to get the funds in the near future and hopes to go to Nairobi and USA to meet different Classical Guitar specialists, some of whom have already expressed a willing to give him a hand to improve. Gerson would love to, and strives towards, sensitising Ugandan and African youth and adults towards living a purposeful life using their musical talents

John Paul

Has been a great energy and source as he prepares for his Grade 7 Guitar ABRSM practical exams. He is almost on top of his Grade 7 repertoire and is getting there for all his other requirements for the grade. Aural training is still a concern for him but that is coming into place

John Paul continues to be committed to his guitar classes attending them regularly. He Has also been exploring pentatonic scales which has opened him up to be able to join in with the KMS Jazz group, a fertile training ground for the development of music.

John Paul is so enthusiastic to learn more and is starting to explore the worlds of cello planning to also do exams and Grade 2 Cello. He is continuously appreciative of the generosity of the givers who continue to give to this, which has been really life changing and continues to transform him from the ghetto from where he is.

THANK YOU!

We thank all those who have been giving to the programme already, and for those who have been able to give a standing regular donation. The regular donations mean for us that we can be sure that projects especially the last mentioned, can keep running without worry, and we hope more can give in this way.