Music Voyage

Overview

Select ratingPoorOkayGoodGreatAwesome

No votes yet

• 0 comments
• share this site

• 
• 
• 

Helen Mennie founded this thriving project in 2009. She identified a need for honouring the love of music within the local community, offering structure to its enjoyment and practice, and providing a platform which would further enable people the opportunity to express themselves.

She says, “Music has always played a special part in my life, both in terms of my enjoyment of it and the self-confidence it has given me. I would love to see other people experience the same positive benefits. I see a lot of healing through music. It forges a common ground where everyone is equal and everyone can share the same experience of making music and enjoying music together. Music moves the soul.”

Music Voyage is something that Helen has wanted to do for a long time. While teaching at a private school she found herself wanting to extend her sphere of influence. She wanted to give all children the opportunity of learning an instrument regardless of their economic privilege. Slowly a vision started developing which in turn started inspiring her.

As she started taking tentative steps enacting her vision, she found people who came alongside her. Some believed in her and her ability to make the project a reality. Some ‘kept the wheels in motion’ by talking things through with her and providing mutual work support in the project. And people in the rural communities embraced the idea. Teachers became her friends and children expressed joy and enthusiasm just to see her. She realised she was making a real difference in people’s lives through music expression and education – a love of which all held in common. And so her vision was sustained and grew.

She says, “I started slowly because I wanted to make sure that it was something the community valued and wanted. I want the project to be relationship based and I aim to grow leaders through music. There is a local love of music and with the limited employment opportunities in rural areas it is satisfying to be able to give people skills that they can use to generate an income in the future. The concerts give children performance opportunity and a special sense of self-worth, being part of a successful team is something to be proud of.

I have gained so much from founding and working in this project, the rewards are numerous and I love it!”

“Living a life that a matters doesn’t happen by accident, it’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.”

Some of our achievements:

Trained 40 practitioners in 2012 and training another 40 in 2013 in the use of music, movement and language expression for the pre-school child.
Tutor 58 students in brass, woodwind and string instruments.
6 children passed ABRSM Grade 2 recorder practical in 2011.
5 children passed Grade 3 ABRSM practical recorder exam in 2012.
Music Voyage was applauded for their performance at the Midlands Meander Eco-schools award ceremony in 2011 and 2012.
Performed with Richard Cock and the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra in 2013.
Music Voyage guitarists welcomed the Vintage Motorcycle Club to Nottingham Road, a stopover on their centenary 2013 JD run.

KwaZulu Natal Midlands Green Map South Africa
updated 09/2014 by KZN Midlands Green Map South Africa