FOR the first 15 years of your life, you breathe, eat and sleep music. All your free hours are taken up by music lesson and music practice. But as soon as you leave school, all the music knowledge goes to waste.
That is what is happening to many music learners in the country, says engineer Simon Chan, 41.
“Unless they go into the music industry, many don’t have the opportunity or outlet to carry on with their music when they finish school.
“I stopped playing music for 20 years after I left school. Yes, you can play music alone. But after a while, you will want to share the music with others,” said Chan, who learnt the piano and played trumpet with his school’s brass band when he was younger.
All together now: The Selangor and KL Orchestra and Choir leading the children from Pusat Penjagaan Kanak Kanak Cacat Taman Megah in a rehearsal for their charity concert. The desire to make music with others led Chan to get together with friend Lee Jia Jie, also 41, and a few other music lovers to form the Selangor Kuala Lumpur Orchestra and Choir (SKOC).
Established in 2008, SKOC is based in Puchong. The community orchestra originally started with Puchong residents but soon, music lovers from other parts of the Klang Valley came knocking. From 30, the number of SKOC members grew to 120. The current members are aged between four and 70-something and come from all walks of life.
It is all about the joy in music and the camaraderie of playing with other music lovers, says Chan, who is also SKOC president.
“When you play music together, it is like playing a team sport where you have to feel and understand each other without words. This creates a close bond,” Chan raved about the uniting power of music. SKOC meets for practice every weekend but the members often hang out together for for yumcha (tea) too, he added.
Every year hundreds of music learners leave school in the country, he says, and SKOC welcomes them to come jam with them or become a member.
Soothing sounds : The children practising their numbers. It is not all fun and play for SKOC, though, as they also perform at various community events as part of their outreach.
Tomorrow, they will hold a Music of Hope Charity Concert to help raise funds for the construction of a new building for the Pusat Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Taman Megah (PPKKCTM). The home cares for 103 children with special needs and 27 children from troubled homes, and space is tight.
“A bigger space will also allow them to cater to more children in need, so that is why they are developing a four-storey building in a new site in Petaling Jaya,” said Chan, adding that they hope to raise up to RM60,000.
The concert will feature classics by SKOC as well as a choir performance by children from the home.
There will also be a special solo performance by one of the home’s talented wards, Aqina Ng, 16, who is blind.
“Many of the children like Aqina are talented and interested in music, but they do not have the opportunity to learn. We hope with this concert, we can not only help them build a new home but also to explore their interest in music,” said Lee.
SKOC also provides introductory sessions for those who have always wanted to learn music but never had the chance.
“You can come to SKOC to try out some of the instruments. Unfortunately we do not provide classes, we can only help you discover your inclination and which instrument is the best fit for you,” said Chan, stressing that SKOC is a non-profit group.
There have also been requests from a few schools in the area for SKOC to help with their music activities.
This is part of SKOC’s philosophy, said Lee, who is also SKOC music conductor.
“We want to share our music knowledge. You cannot just keep your knowledge in your pocket; you have to share with others, especially the young.”
Music of Hope Charity Concert will be held at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall tomorrow from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
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