What’s all
that noise?
Venture down Sani street on a weekday afternoon and you may hear the sounds of Ma Brrr, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Purcell, Michael Jackson, fanfares, umxhentso, dubstep, Bob Marley, Jonas Gwangwa… or something else you’ve never heard before. Trombones, marimbas, bass guitar… piano, voices, cellos, drums… shouts, whispers, booms, clicks, screams… it’s the sound of young people working, playing; the singing of beating hearts and the creaking of expanding minds. Access Music Project (AMP) is an Eastern Cape music education centre connecting young people with their creative identities and opportunities in the creative economy, in partnership with local schools. AMP was established in response to the problem of young potential musicians not having access to music studies. In many schools music is not an option for study, and arts in general have little priority. AMP’s model is that of a centre where human and physical resources are pooled to serve learners from various under-resourced schools, enabling the creation of a well-equipped, diverse and high quality music programme. Engagement with arts provides a space in which children can explore those parts of their selves that cannot be understood through words, and develop critical and alternative ways of thinking and expression. The opportunity to study music formally can open up another world of pathways for children who are talented and aspiring musicians.
AMP Camp 2019. It was not all work and no play, though!
Access Music Project learners with Keiskamma Music Academy learners. Learners participated in some unique and wonderful workshops challenging their creative thinking, team work, discipline and practical skills. On Friday night the Keiskamma Trust art team (led by Siyabonga Maswana, assisted by Lindiswa Gedze and Esethu Makubalo) conducted a screen printing workshop where learners designed their own T-shirts! See some of their beautiful design work... On Saturday, Hobbiton led the learners in group dynamics and a hike to Madonna and Child waterfall. Saturday night brought Francois van Eck who taught us how to salsa!
Sectional leaders and sectional rehearsals during the AMP Camp. What would the camp have been without you lot? Yolanda Bonani, Emily Fryer, Gabriella Govender, Matthew Holman, Anelisa Kuhle Kelemi, Maka Makoni, Bayanda Mthetho, Tiaan Uys, Andre Visser, Kepadisa Khutlwano, Tiago Vital and Asonwabile Nompunga.
We would also like to thank The Keiskamma Trust, Hamburg, The South African National Youth Orchestra Foundation (SANYO) #HeartOrchestra and the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC).
Here are the two maestros whose expertise and hard work made the annual AMP Camp a success: Gareth Walwyn (Artistic Director for Access Music Project - AMP) and Max Khang (Music Manager for Keiskamma Music Academy - KMA). We would also like to thank Keiskamma Trust, Hamburg, South African National Youth Orchestra Foundation (SANYO) #HeartOrchestra and the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC).
The annual AMP Camp which started in 2012 was unique this year with a collaboration between Access Music Project (AMP), Keiskamma Music Academy (KMA) - project of the Keiskamma Trust, Hamburg - and the South African National Youth Orchestra Foundation #HeartOrchestra (SANYO). AMP is very grateful to KMA for securing the funds the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) that have made this year's camp possible.
The tinkling of the ivory will carry on at Access Music Project with this donation from Ms Sally Guye. Much appreciated Ma'am!
In the pic are our learners with Greg Guye (Ms Guye's nephew).
It's nice knowing our work is appreciated by the parents:
One of our learners was mugged at knife point one afternoon en route to his practice. A week later later, one of our dedicated parents found his saxophone abandoned at a dumping site. Unfortunately, since the muggers couldn't sell it, they'd vented their anger by vandalising the case and now we have to fix the instrument for some damages to it.
AMP is pleased to announce a grant from the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music)’s International Sponsorship Fund, which is going to assist towards music tuition for AMP learners in 2019, as well as the start of AMP’s first string ensemble!
Yeah that's good news❤
Good news! Congrats!
Yay! Such great news :)
Well done. Brilliant news.
us ❤us❤
Us♥♥♥
AMP is very proud of its two vocalists, Othandwayo Bill & Alungile Dlayedwa, for their performance of John Mayer's Gravity at this year's Masicule show!
