by Khin Nyein Aye Than

The number of private music schools has grown in Myanmar in response to a greater demand for formal tuition. U Moe Naing, the director of Gitameit Music Center and also a teacher at the school, told the Myanmar Times the school started in 2003 with about 30 students. That number has now grown to a hundred. "Most young people feel they should know something about music, as a hobby or an accompaniment to their other studies. But about 10 percent of our students are really interested in music and have a very strong passion for it," U Moe Naing said.

"When I visited Myanmar to give some concerts and study Myanmar piano, I was approached many times by students very anxious to have me teach them piano technique, theory and repertoire. I was very impressed with their thirst to learn. The idea of developing a school with courses of study appealed to all of us - so Gitameit was born," Kit Young, artistic advisor at Gitameit, told the Myanmar Times.

Ko Du studied music at the Yamaha Music Academy in Singapore. He founded the Art Music Academy in Yangon eight years ago. Ko Du told the Myanmar Times he strives to help his students become professional musicians, rather than just amateur performers. "The youngest student at my school is a seven year old boy, and he can already sing as well as any famous rock singer," he said.

The first challenge he faced when he opened his music academy eight years ago, was to change the thinking of Myanmar people who were used to spoon-feeding and parrot-style learning methods, Ko Du said. "International music teaching techniques focus on creativity and improvisation. But in Myanmar, most people are reluctant to do something new. That’s why I always drive my students to change their attitudes. I want them to be music creators, not imitators."

U Moe Naing of Gitameit shares Ko Du’s opinions and experiences. "Once the students finish the basic courses here, they go into different classes depending on the level of talent and creativity they possess. Only a few people manage to go on to the composition level. Talent, of course still plays a large role in the amount of success a student goes on to achieve," U Moe Naing said.

U Saw Nu studied in Russia for six years, then came back and opened a music school in Yangon in 1990. He explained how he sees the current situation in the Myanmar music industry. "If you listen to foreign music, you will appreciate the skills foreign vocalists have. They can control their voices expertly. In our country, there are many famous singers who are excellent too, but htey can’t compete with those in the west because many do not have formal training," he said. "To be a professional singer you must study music from primary school right through to a university degree," he added.

Many of Myanmar’s most famous singers have had no training whatsoever. Famous pop diva, Htun Eaindra Bo, said she believed her success as a singer was due to "San", a god given gift, and she did not need to take any lessons. Popular rock singer R Zar Ni, said he also believed he owed his success to "San" and had no interest in formal training. This is the mindset Ko Du, U Saw Nu, and the Gitameit team said they are struggling against. "We just have to depend on the young, new generations," Ko Du said. Famous singers such as Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein and Tin Zar Maw have had some formal training though.

Formal training includes studying music theory, sight singing, music history, breathing exercises, harmony, counterpoint, composition, and choir singing. However, U Moe Naing said that even that was not enough. "Music students in Myanmar need more exposure to international music and musicians through concerts and workshops by foreign masters," he said.

To this aim, Gitameit has tried to organize concerts by top-level foreign musicians in Yangon. "In the next year, we are planning a jazz concert, a festival of music by Israeli composers, a piano recital of Baroque music and a concert by our own students performing music from the Mahagita. We hope also to have a concert of original and improvised music in January 2006," Kit Young said. She said the school is also in the process of establishing a non-credit certificate program linked with Payap University for young adults.

Gitameit has also tried to give its students opportunities to travel and study music abroad. The school helped Mandalay pianist Parami Shoon and Yangon violinist Chan Hein Kywe receive full scholarships to study for two years at Mahidol University in Bangkok. "The harder they work, the more opportunities there are for them," U Moe Naing said. Art Music Academy’s Ko Du said he also hopes that formal training and hard work will help create a new breed of professional musicians in Myanmar that will help elevate the local music industry to a level on par with what is happening in the international music scene.