Music as a Global Resource: - International Council for Caring ...

SECTION:
Music for Lifelong Learning
COUNTRY:
India
PROJECT:
DISCOVERING MUSICAL POTENTIAL IN CHILDREN AND PROVIDING FREE MUSIC
TEACHER TRAINING: MY PEACE MUSIC INSTITUTE
DESCRIPTION:
Many children in Kalimpong, District Darjeeling, have great musical potential but never come to know it.
In the My Peace Music Institute, a nonprofit organization, these children get the chance to discover their
potential and receive a free education to become music teachers. Funds are provided by the Institute for
the children to complete high school and, in many cases, a college/university degree. Presently 24 boys
and girls are in the program. All instruments (violin, viola, cello, key-board, piano and guitar) are
provided by the Institute. The My Peace Music Institute also welcomes any student interested in music
lessons and has more than 30 students enrolled whose parents contribute small amounts of money for the
classes.
The My Peace Music Institute (MPMI) has five goals:
Introducing young people from marginal backgrounds to local and western classical music and
providing them with training to become music teachers or musicians. The completion of the
training will enable them to find jobs in the country or in institutions linked with the MPMI.
Outstanding students will get the chance to further his/her studies abroad
Encouraging the interaction of different social groups to promote understanding
Providing free music performances to residents, who due to their social situation or due to
handicaps are normally excluded
Promoting intercultural cooperation, understanding and support
To set up a larger network
An informal partnership of the My Peace Music Institute with the Johann Sebastian Bach Music School
(JSBM) in Vienna, Austria, aims at exchanging knowledge as well as enabling the MPMI‟s teachers and
students to meet international teachers and learn from them. The costs for workshops of Austrian teachers
in Kalimpong or study trips from Indian teachers to Vienna are jointly financed by the Bach Music
School and My Peace Organization Austria, a charitable association for the support of the My Peace
Music Institute. In May 2009 the JSBM gave an E-Piano to the My Peace Music Institute.
CURRENT STATUS:
With the help of the partners there are now plans to build a concert hall for the children.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
http://www.mypeacemusic.net
http://www.bach-musikschule.at/
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Organization: My Peace Music Institute (Kalimpong)
Address: Malli Road below Flower Patch, Kalimpong, 734301, District Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
Email: office@mypeacemusic.net or mpmi.kalimpong@gmail.com
Contact Persons: Mr. Balam Gurung, Office Manager of MPMI; Phone: 9851413816;
Mr. Dawa Tamang, Director MPMI; Phone: 9932768498
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