The Quezon City Symphonic Band is offering free online music lessons to interested individuals.
Vincent Leo Ramos, one of the conductors said the band seeks to help those who are already going through a lot to ward off stress and learn a new skill at the same time.
“There are many benefits to music,” Ramos said. “As they say, music is life. Our lives will be dull without music.”
The group is offering free online music lessons to those who want to learn how to play flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, French horn, and even drums.
Now that the country is in the middle of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Ramos said this is their own way of contributing to the many initiatives of the QC government, and at least help ease the negative impact of the pandemic.
There is no age requirement for the activity and that anyone, with or without any musical background, may sign-up with the program.
“Sa music naman walang age qualification basta gusto niyang matuto. So far sa nakita ko na nag-sign up na ang pinakabata is eight years old at pinakamatanda is 54 years, (There is no age qualification in music, as long as they want to learn. So far from those who have signed up already, the youngest is eight years old and the oldest is 54),” Ramos said.
The initiative is challenging for the group because this is the first time they will do this online.
The free online music lesson was initially offered to QC residents, but Ramos said they soon accepted non-QC residents as far as Davao City.
As of August 13, about 50 individuals have signed up for music lessons.
The only qualification they require is the willingness and the desire to learn how to play musical instruments. The student must have his own instrument.
Classes which will start on August 17 will be one-on-one.
The members of the QC Symphonic Band are employees of the QC government under the tourism department.
Those who will teach instruments have a formal background in music.
"Isa pang benefit ng pag-aaral ng music pwede sila maka kuha ng scholarship sa college pag humusay sila sa instrument na pag aaralan nila (Another benefit from studying music is the opportunity to obtain a scholarship in college in case they become very good in playing instruments),” Ramos said.
Those who want to avail of the free online music lesson may sign up through their official FB page, Quezon City Symphonic Band.