Outreach Music Interest Courses open for applications
Outreach Music Interest Courses (OMICs) organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are now open for applications. Members of the public are welcome to apply for an array of courses, ranging from Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes to music workshops. The courses will be held from March to August next year.
Introductory courses available include hulusi, ocarina, kalimba, keyboard and musicianship. Instrumental enrichment courses include dizi, pipa, yangqin, zheng, erhu, flute, clarinet, violin and cello. There are also ensemble training for Chinese and Western music, music theory (Grades 1 and 2) and aural training. The course fees range from $290 to $1,200.
Other Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes will cover dizi, xiao, zhongruan, liuqin, pipa, yangqin, zheng, erhu, trumpet, flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, viola, cello, and percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad). The course fee is $1,280 each.
A new course, "Workshop on Arranging Music for Chamber Ensembles", welcomes adults with a Grade 5 or above knowledge of music theory. The course will introduce the characteristics of different Western musical instruments and orchestration techniques for arranging musical works for chamber groups. Participants should bring their own laptop computer to class and pre-install the free music notation software MuseScore 4. The fee of this course is $680.
In addition, the "Keyboard Playing (Numbered Musical Notation)" course welcomes adults who have completed the "Introduction to Keyboard Playing (Foundation I)" course organised by the Music Office, or those who have acquired basic skills in playing the keyboard with both hands. Numbered musical notation reading skills, melody-playing techniques and simple chord applications will be covered in the course. The course fee is $580.
All OMICs are conducted in Cantonese. The courses will be held at different venues across the territory, namely Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Sha Tin Town Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, North District Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library and the Music Office's music centres in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan. Participants of the online course "ABCs of Musicianship" are required to prepare their own electronic device equipped with a wireless or broadband data connection, a webcam and the software Zoom in advance.
Online applications are now available on the Music Office website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice). Course prospectuses and application forms are also available at various performance venues of the LCSD and all music centres of the Music Office. The deadline for applications is January 15. Oversubscribed courses will be processed by ballot. For courses not fully taken up after the first round of application, places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis from February 18 onwards.
For enquiries, please call 3842 7773, 2598 0801 or 2598 8335 or email to outreachmusic@lcsd.gov.hk.
