The Wolmers Boys School received a well needed boost to its music programme with a gift of a number of musical instruments courtesy of the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education Fund (CHASE) under its arts and culture portfolio.

To show its appreciation the students were eager to display their musical skills and entertained  on their new saxophone, drums, and guitar, playing  a number of jazz and reggae instrumentals which were more than pleasing to the ear.

During his address to the school, W. Billy Heaven, Chief Executive Officer of CHASE lauded the institution for including music in its curriculum.  “Music is an outlet for self expression and creativity… that is what we saw being displayed here today,” said the CEO.

 The Value of Music

According to Heaven, music is much more than winning national competitions as it has been proven that it creates habits of self discipline and personal persistence which carry over into every facet of school and home life.  “Music also has a positive correlation with other disciplines such as math, science, reading and also plays an integral role in the total development of human beings,” he pointed out.

In pointing out that CHASE had been making a difference at all levels of music education in Jamaica, the CEO revealed that to date the Fund had granted some J$15 million to boost music programmes in schools.

Among the high schools that have received grants are:  Papine, Seaforth, Holland, Irwin, Garvey Maceo, Godfrey Stewart, Camperdown and Bog Walk with J$7.3 million supporting the establishment or expansion of 9 marching bands or drum corps – making this a total sum of J$22.3 million support in this area.

In thanking CHASE for what he described as a generous gift to the school, Head Boy Phillip Malcolm said that this would allow students in the music programme  to now have regular practice and to hone their musical skills.  Another student Bradley Rose who gave the final vote of thanks said:  “With the gift of these instruments there is hope for Jamaican music again.”