ASMA staging 1st anniversary extravaganza

Alphasound Studio Music Academy (ASMA) will be staging a musical extravaganza on Sunday free of cost at the Peace Memorial Hall.{{more}}

This event is being put on to celebrate the academy’s first anniversary.

Students of ASMA will be using the opportunity to showcase their talent.

Director of ASMA Curtis Williams told SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday, January 18, a treat is in store for patrons. He also made a call for musicians from throughout St.Vincent and the Grenadines to attend the event which starts at 4 p.m.

ASMA was officially started in January 2010 as the brainchild of Williams, providing training in music theory and practices, online and telephone support from colleagues and tutors, training to suit students’ desired needs, and an environment conducive to learning music in a relaxed environment.

Music training sessions are provided from Mondays to Thursdays between the hours of 3:15p.m. to 7:15p.m at ASMA’s, Town Hill, Kingstown, base. Training is provided for students as young as six years old up to the age of 60 at a cost of $110 for four weeks or $300 per term. Williams said the academy will also be catering for persons who have retired and want to fulfil their life long dream of learning music.

“I see the students that come in being channelled and gaining musical experience as to what they could do in the future. We aim to fulfill the dreams and diversity of the persons that come,” said Williams, who holds a Grade 8 in music: theory and practice (distinction) from the Royal Schools of Music London and Trinity College (London) (practical). He also holds a Minor in Music from Andrews University.

Musicians who undergo their training at ASMA will be provided with local certification for their programmes, as well as external certification.

Williams said he will be aiming to prepare students for CSEC Music examinations.

Currently, the piano is the only instrument played at ASMA, with plans in place to start training in the use of the violin. Williams said he can be contacted at 528-7488 or 457-2762.

Williams told SEARCHLIGHT that he is hoping to attract to the academy, musicians who play by ear but cannot read music, those who play in bands, as well churches.

Sheena Williams, a beginner at ASMA, sharing her experience of the past four months, said: “It’s really interesting. I’ve learned a lot.” She said that she has played instruments in the past, but had never played the piano until now. She said Williams is very helpful during training because he is energetic and enthusiastic. Her goal is to be proficient in music and to be able to read it.

Fralene Thorpe has been a student at ASMA for one year. She described her experience learning music as funfilled and enjoyable.

There are plans in the pipeline to expand the building from which ASMA conducts its training, as well as to provide quality instruments at lower rates than what exists on the market.

Williams said there are also plans to conduct musical seminars and workshops, as well as establish a well rounded music academy with a variety of instruments.

Williams has been teaching music since 1989 from his home, but decided to centralize the academy as a means of reaching more people. (HN)