Music tuition for 70 disadvantaged London children

The World Heart Beat Music Academy would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who continues to donate and support our projects. Your donations are making such a difference in the lives of our young musicians, inspiring them through music and helping them become confident performers.

Recently, some of our students performed at Battersea Art Centre for an exhibition and reception for Friends of Battersea Power Station.

“We pride ourselves on providing a community environment for excellence in music and it’s fantastic to see the community sharing the same values. Understanding that the arts are important to the wellbeing of all people, to the community and the spirit of any successful and prosperous region, we are very excited to be a part of the Battersea Arts Station event. Initiatives like this go hand in hand with the developing potential of our young people and we are very proud of this partnership. The regeneration project offers hope in the same way that our young musicians will become the life blood of this community.” – Sahana Gero, Artistic Director

We have seen first-hand how music has the power to change lives and inspire young people to new heights. Your funding has helped us to provide one young musician (14) with a bass guitar and lessons. His progress has been incredible, and he has already picked up 13 tunes. His confidence and skills have grown so much that he was able to play at the Battersea Arts Station event after only learning for a few months.

Recently, our students also had the opportunity to get involved with the Whisper to Katrina event, a creative commemoration of a decade since Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans. This event drew on the history of New Orleans Jazz to create a stunning soundscape and reminds us again of the regenerative power that music has.

“New Orleans is the only place I know of where you ask a little kid what he wants to be and instead of saying, I want to be a policeman or I want to be a fireman, he says, I want to be a musician.”

15 more young people who have benefited from your funding will be performing at the 51^st State Band concert next month alongside award-winning British Jazz artist, Tony Kofi. They have already had the unbelievable and rare opportunity to work alongside Tony to learn an original score composed by him for the band; it is not often that musicians get to work with the composer themselves!

Links:

• Whisper to Katrina
• Battersea Art Station
• 51st State Band in Concert