Are you a professionally qualified musician with a passion for music?
Would you like to share your passion and REALLY make a profound difference?
Then the aspiring musicians of Trujillo, Peru need you!
Hello, I am Michael, 56, early retired, musically qualified (GLCM, LTCL, LLCM(TD)) and now. After 25 years as a management consultant I have returned to my first love and first profession and am now a visiting professor at the Carlos Valderamma Public Conservatoire in Trujillo. The conservatoire is state run, has little money, is poorly equipped but has many aspiring students who want to learn. Exposure to western classical music is limited, it is only thanks to YouTube that pupils get to hear much "live" music. They rely on ancient textbooks and by western standards a ridiculously poorly stocked library, new music is too expensive to buy and in any case nobody knows what to buy. Consequently the students all end up playing the same limited number of pieces. Many of the teachers were themselves students at the Conservatoire so it is a vicious circle.
I have been teaching here for 4 months and the experience has been inspirational, draining and frustrating in equal measure. The students desperately need experienced technically competent players to help them achieve their potential, advanced students rely on You tube tutorials to learn technique and have no chance to discuss problems face to face with a good teacher. So the standard of playing is slowly and steadily spiralling downwards. But you could help to change that ……
In the conservatoire and also in some of the small music academies, there is a huge need for instrumental teachers to come and give that vital injection of passion and enthusiasm, to encourage and animate the students. You would also be encouraged to give advanced lessons to the professors.
Currently I teach Piano, am repairing the harpsichord here, teach orchestral conducting, theory, orchestration, run a children's string orchestra and have a dozen chamber groups going along with a 20 strong chamber choir ……. In the next few months I will be making my debt with the professional symphony orchestra based here in Trujillo, and participating in numerous recitals …… (and plan to be here for a long while)
In order to make a difference a stay of 4 months would be excellent, (there are two academic terms April to July and August to December) and there would be no shortage of students and opportunities to make music and give recitals. Teachers are particularly needed who can prepare students for higher grade and diploma examinations. Starting November 2013 the London College of Music will hold exams here.
A working knowledge of Spanish is necessary as 95% of the pupils have little or no English. It is hard work but also so hugely rewarding and I and others are on hand to offer professional support and of course Otra Cosa will support you as a volunteer.
The biggest need at the moment is for teachers of : Trumpet, Euphonium/Tuba, Double-bass, All woodwinds, Piano Accompaniment, and Singing (classical)
Please contact me via Otra Cosa for more details.
Apply now:
http://otracosa.org/apply-now.html
