National School of Music receives state-of-the-art pianos

By Rennella Bourne

Minister within the Education Ministry with responsibility for culture, youth and sport, Nicolette Henry on Monday handed over two Steinway & Sons pianos to the National School of Music.
A brief ceremony was held at the National School of Music for the presentation of the smaller piano, the Upright Model K52, while the larger piano, Model D9’: Concert Grand, which is slated for concert performances, was presented at the National Cultural Centre.

Minister Henry and National School of Music Administrator Andrew Tyndall discuss the finer points of the Steinway & Sons concert piano
Minister Henry and National School of Music Administrator Andrew Tyndall discuss the finer points of the Steinway & Sons concert piano

Minister Henry was pleased to present the two grand pianos to the musical institution that was without a piano ever since the school was commissioned in November 2011.
Henry relayed that the filling of this musical gap was all part of Head of State David Granger’s vision to give Guyanese the resources required for development. “I have learnt that despite that we have a National School of Music, people still have to be travelling overseas for piano lessons, and not everyone can afford to travel to take lessons,” she noted.

Minister within the Education Ministry with responsibility for culture, youth and sport, Nicolette Henry posing with students and officials along with the Steinway & Sons upright piano
Minister within the Education Ministry with responsibility for culture, youth and sport, Nicolette Henry posing with students and officials along with the Steinway & Sons upright piano

According to Remington Ally, proprietor of Remmy’s Piano Service Inc, the company the pianos were ordered through, they are made of carbon fibre which is the latest technology utilised in the production of pianos that can “almost last forever with care”. He said that the material can withstand humidity and the issue of sticky keys, which is caused by moisture, would not be a problem in these brand name pianos.
The administrator of the National School of Music, Andrew Tyndall, expressed his gratitude for the new instruments.
“The Minister was present here some time back…she was informed that we were getting the best piano tutor in the world for free, but we could not have accommodated the tutor because we had no piano. It was then the Minister asked for a proposal to be sent to her which was done immediately and now here we are at a handing over ceremony of pianos,” Tyndall remarked.
He disclosed that the National School of Music had plans to open branches around the country, but it was continually faced with human resources challenges.” We have to get accredited music teachers to teach our students, but we are limited in that aspect; however, we are working hard to develop each student that attends the music school.”
“Ideally at a National Music School, we should be accepting students from a Grade Five level, but we cannot put that as a criteria right now. This is because limited exposure is given in the school’s curriculum of music. We have students coming in as beginners, they are willing to work to improve their abilities,” added Tyndall.
The National School of Music usually holds after-school programmes with students that feature tutoring in four instruments: the guitar, keyboard, steel pan and violin.
Tyndall added that the music school was looking to introduce a “state-of-the-art” electronic music production programme for the people who are creative but do not want to play the instruments.
According to the administrator, “the Government has been very supportive of our initiatives and we have also been able to receive funding for the constructing of our studio”.
The National School of Music will be hosting “an end of semester concert” that is slated for July 24, 2016.