A National Youth Orchestra in the Solomon Islands could inspire a new generation of musical teenagers.
A little over a year ago, I wrote proposing the creation of a National Youth Orchestra in keeping with the aims of the National Youth Policy towards 2030.
I will repeat some of what I said at the time.
“The concept for the creation of a National Youth Orchestra is essentially the further development of an idea I have long considered as means of furthering the latent talents of the youth with music education and a wider perception of the arts, given the inherent cultural association of Solomon Islanders with traditional forms of music, song and dance.
“In the Solomon Islands music traditionally involves using percussion instruments, panpipes and flutes and various other homemade instruments.
“ With the launching of the National Youth Policy towards 2030.I saw the opportunity within the provisions of the policy for a shared vision for the future of young people, an opening platform to propose the early creation of a National Youth Orchestra that would not only enhance the musical talents of those youths already possessing instruments, or those already skilled in playing music, but also because the benefits of music education extend to a number of other societal and psychological outcomes.
“Some international studies have found that youths involved with the arts become more cooperative, gain more self-confidence and are much less inclined to anti-social behavior, and have the lowest levels of lifelong use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs among any groups in society.
“Music education is a powerful way to develop students’ appreciation of music. But music education can also enhance children’s skills and abilities outside of music. The following benefits of music education illustrate some of the ways children are impacted.
“Studies have shown that students who received music instruction had improved sound discrimination and fine motor tasks,
“I believe participation in a youth orchestra would have a profound impact on the development of today’s youth.
“Beyond being a recreational activity, it would create opportunities for leadership, engagement, and creativity.
“Music builds leadership: Many music programs involve bands, choirs and orchestras, all of which involve working and communicating with others to achieve a common goal. This develops leadership and teamwork skills that can be applied to other areas of life.
“A music education can provide the values for students to thrive in all areas of life from academics, to relationships, to careers. Having the understanding that practice makes perfect and sustained effort will achieve positive results is sure to take any music student far.
“As the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children Affairs is the local Ministry responsible for the National Youth Policy, which includes musical activities, with support from the Culture Division of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, I very much look forward to being able to develop my ideas with the two Ministries to see how we might combine to get the idea of a home grown National Youth Orchestra off the ground in further music development and promotion.”
Sadly, my hopes for a National Youth Orchestra met with silence from the two Ministries I referred to.
“A group of talented musicians in the UK stand ready to help in whatever way possible with the creation of a Solomon Islands National Youth Orchestra, especially with music training and education, but await news that local efforts to see to the implementation of my ‘dream’ have developed sufficiently to consider holding fund raising concerts in the UK.
“It has been suggested that the group would be willing to host fund raising concerts in the UK to help cover the acquisition of any instruments needed by a local orchestra, should the youths not have any of their own.”
The group I was referring to, the Dionysus Ensemble will arrive in Honiara on 1 January and stay for two weeks. During their visit the professional musicians will give music education lessons and instrumental instruction to the talented young musicians that are members of the Piano Association of the Solomon Islands (PASI. The Dionysus Ensemble will also give several public concerts which will see the youngsters of PASI demonstrate their musical talents along way the professional musicians from the United Kingdom.
I am sure the teenagers of PASI will benefit greatly from the role peer-inspiration will play in their musical development and I would very much hope the wider youth community will be inspired by attending the concerts to be given by the Dionysus Ensemble and be encouraged to have the aspiration of combining to form a National Youth Orchestra which could be life-changing for them and a dynamic step to their musical and educational development.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
