October 10, 2009

Today is a big day.  Professional music teachers Anthony Tam and his wife Winus are in Cambodia from Hong Kong.  They share a passion for music and a desire to help this rebuilding country.

We will meet this afternoon with Cambodian and ex-pat (foreign) music teachers to discuss bringing in an international music exam system and starting a music teachers’ association.  We also will touch on past dreams of a National Orchestra, developing a public-access music library - and general performing arts co-operation.   Amrita Performing Arts, Cambodian Living Arts and the Cambodia Support Group share a keen interest in this concept.

The exam system, NATIONAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC (founded in 1894), is England-based and has centres around the world.  Like other exam systems, it offers many benefits well known in the west: training in varied skills (pieces, technique, ear and sight training, theory knowledge), impartial assessment by an outside examiner, an internationally-recognized format, certificates to reward achievement, support materials, and more. 

A music teachers’ association also offers many benefits.  Fostering a climate of co-operation and shared learning among teachers will increase their enthusiasm, knowledge and skills.  These will reach out to their students and help to build a future base of both active musicians and appreciative audiences  -  needed anywhere, but especially in this country where the vast majority of culturally-aware people were wiped out in a vicious purge.

As examples,  the MUSIC TEACHERS’ NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, MTNA (founded 1876, USA) and the CANADIAN FEDERATION OF MUSIC TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATIONS, CFMTA (founded 1936, Canada) have legal recognition.  They focus on teachers’ training and credentials and on high-quality music training, with many programs including scholarships and awards to benefit students and teachers; and the ability to organize major events.  Each has national, state/provincial and local levels.  www.mtna.org,  www.cfmta.org

Another example is Canada’s ALBERTA PIANO TEACHERS’ASSOCIATION, APTA.  Any dedicated teacher may join, and the focus is on shared learning and support as teachers develop their skills.  APTA also offers scholarships and training programs for teachers, and holds its own music festival.  . www.aptaonline.net

Also in Canada, the EAST KOOTENAY MUSIC TEACHERS’ASSOCIATION, EKMTA is similar to APTA on a smaller scale.  Teachers host events, meet regularly, offer scholarships, and more www.ekmta.ca

We proudly offer these examples of musicians working together for the good of all.  Each of these agencies performs another very important function: advocating strongly for music study, performance, composition, and appreciation in the wider community. This is one of Cambodia’s greatest needs to redevelop its cultural life.

In 2011 MTNA will be 135 years old, and CFMTA will be 75 years old.  Perhaps some day the CAMBODIAN MUSIC TEACHERS’ASSOCIATION will celebrate such long years of service. 

A Cambodian National Orchestra, combining Khmer and foreign instruments, was discussed a decade ago.  Funds were raised by Amrita Performing Arts (USA) and Cambodia Support Group (Canada) among other agencies.  But time was not right and the concept was shelved.  Since then, chromatic versions of some Khmer instruments have been created; the orchestra funds were used to present a major Khmer-and-foreign partnership project last May (with Khmer students and Canada’s University of Victoria Choir); and concepts of co-operation have developed a stronger track record.  Cambodia’s Royal Family, among the world’s most artistic royalty, includes members for whom a National Orchestra is a long-held dream.  To honour them and for other reasons, the time seems right to discuss reviving this grand concept.

A public-access music library might hold sheet music, recordings, music texts, loanable instruments both Khmer and foreign --- and a developing body of Khmer compositions as Cambodia joins the international ‘library’ of orchestral, solo, chamber, opera and other repertoire. 

Many of the world’s countries have music all over.  Secondhand stores, libraries, family closets and piano benches hold sheet music, old instruments, books about music theory and much more.  Students registering for music at schools have books provided, instruments on rental and more.

The purges of Cambodia included wanton destruction of both Khmer and foreign music artefacts.  Now, with so many desperate survival needs, this country cannot focus much energy on arts and culture.   Many foreign agencies have expressed interest in providing music materials; part of redeveloping Cambodia’s appreciative arts audience involves making study materials available to all.

Calgary Arts Summer School Association in Canada has a wonderful slogan: “Discover the Fine Arts Within Yourself.”  Said music theory teacher Rodney Webster years ago:  “For every professional musician you had better train about 2,000 educated listeners.”  The more we make arts training and experience available through Khmer society, the more likely we are to bring about a future in which those who study, teach and perform the arts have an understanding, appreciative audience and the support they need to show the Khmer face and voice, in both traditional and international music, with pride in tomorrow’s world.              

-  Arne Sahlén, CSG President