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On the occasion of the German Unity Day, the NeoClassic Vocal Ensemble was invited to sing the European Hymn and the Brunei National Anthem at the Empire Hotel and Country Club last 12th October, 2018. The German National Hymn was sung solo by our very own student, Shana Holmes.  After the performance, the choir was treated to a lavish buffet of delicious German cuisine and given gift bags of exquisite German products. It was indeed a very memorable event for everyone.

The NCMS Vocal Ensemble Singing the Brunei National Anthem

Our student, Shana Holmes, singing the German National Anthem

The NCMS Vocal Ensemble and Shana Holmes singing the European Union Anthem (Beethoven’s An Die Freude)

ON THE NEWS

We were on Berita Perdana dated 13th October, 2018. Listen to our singing at about 18’40” of the video. (Video courtesy of RTB News.)

 

 

 

Dr. Kamaruddin Ahmad is a professional music arranger, composer and educator. He has arranged and directed performances for many distinguished world leaders that include His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah Sultan Dan Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Royal Highness Prince Charles, His Excellency President Bill Clinton, His Excellency President Nelson Mandela, His Excellency President Mr Jiang Ze Min, His Excellency President Vladimir Putin to name a few.

 

He was the Director of Music and Arranger for the Opening Ceremony of the 20^th SEA Games, as well as the 2000 Asia Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) Official Gala Performance.  He has performed at various ASEAN cities, in Europe, China and New Zealand besides producing music for regional television programmes and dance festivals such as the ASEAN Dance Festivals and the International Dance Festivals in Japan and Europe. His recent works include programming music for the World Championship of Performing Arts held in Long Beach, California, USA, and, composing and arranging commercial songs and jingles for television advertisements in Malaysia.

In the field of music education, he has authored a series of graded Music Theory Workbooks for the Australian Guild of Music Examination Board. Dr. Kamaruddin has served as an Associate Professor, College Dean, Music Examiner and Adjudicator for various public and private universities throughout Malaysia.

In the local scene, he has successfully transcribed the traditional songs of Brunei Darussalam under the ASEAN Sonic Order Project.  He has composed original songs as well as transcribed and arranged a large number of Brunei traditional songs and music for Radio Television Brunei.

Click below to listen to samples of his composition and arrangement of Bruneian traditional music (Copyright Radio Television Brunei).

To listen to his original composition, Inang Darussalam (Copyright Radio Television Brunei), click the Play button below.

Dr. Kamaruddin is a member of the Malaysia National Advisory Board in Music Development and the Malaysia National Occupational Skills Standard Certification Board in Music and is a lifetime member of the National Professional Honor Society, Alpha Psi Sigma, USA. He is recognized as the National Industrial Expert in Music by the government of Malaysia.

 

PHOTOS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of us know that music lessons provide a wonderful array of benefits not only for children, but for people of all ages. While some benefits are already well-known, it may be hard to actually see them for yourself. For example, it has been found that music lessons improve neural connections. That would be hard to prove for ourselves unless we have our own brain scanning machines and other sophisticated gadgets only scientists, researchers or doctors have.

Nevertheless, there are actually some benefits that you can DIRECTLY experience even from your very first music lesson.

Here they are:

1. Help you learn to focus on a task at hand

In your first music lesson,  you will be taught at least one of the various musical elements such as rhythm, melody, harmony, dynamics, texture, and others. You will also be taught some singing or playing techniques on your chosen musical instrument. Each of these musical tasks require your full attention and focus.

2. Help you develop listening skills

Music is a listening art. It is only through listening that one can truly experience its beauty. In music lessons, students are taught to listen from the very first lesson. From listening to the teacher’s instructions to listening for accurate pitch, beautiful intonation and musical phrasing, there’s just no escape, you will need to listen.

3. Relieve you of stress 

Despite probably feeling a little nervous coming to your first music lesson, it is quite inevitable to have some fun! After all, music lessons should never be stressful. To learn music effectively, there should be a balance of enjoyment plus your own personal drive to reach your set goals. If you find that music lessons are stressing you out, it may be that the tasks have not been broken down into smaller, manageable pieces or you may have set unrealistic goals for yourself (that’ll be a topic on another post).

4. Improve your physical coordination

Physical coordination involves more than just playing hands together.  From proper posture to the correct playing position, every aspect of singing or playing a musical instrument involves different parts of your body working together in coordination. Your posture and playing position will affect your sound or tone on the instrument.

5. Improve your musical literacy

From the very first lesson, you would have already improved your musical literacy, or at least, taken a step towards improving. Music literacy does not just mean the ability to read notes.  To be musically literate (by Western Classical music definition) means, one has developed “the capacity to make music, reflect on the music in which you are engaged in, express your view on the music you play, hear or create as well as read, write, comprehend and interpret staff notation”. Note-reading (music notation) is only one aspect of music literacy.

If you are already taking music lessons, good for you! If you haven’t taken any but are planning to get lessons, don’t miss a beat! Check out our courses HERE.

Enjoy! 🙂