Dr Kenneth Taylor, Headteacher, John Cameron, Assistant Director of Music and Fiona Duncan, Marketing Manager travelled to Malaysia recently to take part in the inaugural conference ‘Music Teaching for the 21st Century’.
The conference took place over two days in Kuala Lumpur and attracted some 300 guests from around KL and beyond. Dr Taylor presented to audiences made up of teachers, students, and representatives from government, higher education and the national orchestra about what constitutes a specialist music education.
Meanwhile, John Cameron showcased some of the unique features of music education here at St Mary’s Music School and conducted demonstration performance and coaching classes with young musicians from schools and universities in the area.
Each session was very well received and stimulated debate around the importance of high calibre music teaching to sustain music education globally and to support the next generation of musicians.
During their time in Malaysia, the St Mary’s Music School team also visited a number of universities and schools and a Young Offender institution in the south of the country where a new music initiative has enabled 100 young men to learn to play an instrument for the very first time. The programme has been brought about by philanthropy from individual donors and is the brainchild of successful businessman and entrepreneur Peter Chua.