Make music compulsory subject in schools, MUSON chairman advises govt

The three tiers of government should make the teaching and learning of music compulsory in primary and secondary schools, the chairman of Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), Kitoye Ibare-Akinsan, has said. .

Ibare-Akinsan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the training of more music teachers should also be encouraged.

He said that the move would create more employment opportunities for many jobless professionals in the subject.

According to him, If it is included in the school curriculum, it will be as important as other subjects.

“It will be easy for music teachers to go into any school to teach, while the pupils and the students will be willing to learn.

“A lot of people who can teach music will earn a living from it. Presently, many people employ private music teachers to teach them.

“I attended Kings’ College, Lagos, which is a Federal Government School, and we had a music department then.

“Somebody taught us music there and encouraged us to understand and love it.

“So, if it becomes a part of the school curriculum, students will be interested in learning how to play instruments, even if they can’t sing,” he said.

Ibare-Akinsan noted that for now, almost all private schools had music departments, adding that if government could restore it in public schools, it would be a welcome development.

“Music pays with time, if we can develop it, youths and some other adults who are interested in music can key-in into it.

“It is a tough thing to be a musician; it is time consuming. You have to practise all the time, so as to perfect the instruments. Being versatile is very good.

“Music is paying now. The music industry has benefited generally from the explosion in the information technology.

“You can see or have jingles, ringing tones and so many others in music. Music is creating work and employment for people,” he said.

Ibare-Akinsan, an architect with no fewer than 30 years of cognate experience, emphasised that arts, music, theatre and dance were part of the people’s culture.

“We want our children to have some cultural ideas, to help them understand their society and be responsible citizens.

“In other to encourage the young ones, we have established music schools for them, which will make them become broad-minded when they grow up, ” he said

NAN reports that MUSON was established in 1983, following some interactions among some friends who love and appreciate classical music.

MUSON’s core activities are: training and inspiring professional musicians and anyone interested in learning how to play any instrument, organising classical concerts and staging annual MUSON festival. (NAN)