The busy street outside is in stark contrast to the serenity inside the offices of Music Republicain, a new school for music and image.
Located on the crowded Jl. Fatmawati in South Jakarta, the music school has just resumed its classes after taking a Christmas and New Year break.
The building of Music Republicain poses a unique facade for passerby in the crowded Fatmawati street. courtesy Music Republicain. (JP/Kurniawan Hari)
The office may be quiet, but any time a class begins, "the sound of music" can be heard coming from the 10 classrooms where students are practicing piano, voice or ensemble playing.
"This is a new institution which combines instruction in both music and personal image. We are offering someting different from other music schools," director Ivonne Atmojo told The Jakarta Post Thursday.
The school was designed with a philosophy that everyone has a particular interest and skill in music. With a customized approach, every student can develop his or her abilities.
Their open approach has attracted a broad range of music students of different backgrounds and ages. One student is barely four years old, another is 67.
"The idea is to make a place where everyone speaks the same language -- music -- regardless of their age," Ivonne said.
The director explained the school is flexible because she understood people choose to learn music for different reasons. Some people are aiming to become professionals while others want to play just for fun.
With each student's interest and goal in mind, the school also provides each student with a well-suited teacher or mentor from their staff. For this reason, the school also requires teachers to audition and pass through a detailed evaluation before joining the school.
The evaluation helps Ivonne and her team understand the strengths, weaknesses and general profile of their teachers.
"We also require our teachers to customize lesson plans so each student will get what they want from their experience," said Ivonne who holds a Master's degree from the US San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
The artful thing in this process, she said, is to match up the right teacher with the right student. Some foreign students want to learn in English so the school also employs teachers who can speak English.
At this school, students can learn music either just for fun or for a serious motive of becoming professional musician. For those who want to become professional, it is recommended they take a certified international test, the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).
But if they want to learn music for fun, they need not take this test.
Because many students take music classes after school, classes are scheduled at Music Republicain generally in the afternoons and evenings. Busy professionals have signed up for the evening choir class.
Music Republicain general manager Ivana stated she wanted the school to become a place for people to learn music as well as to further their interests.
"This is a place that offers more than just music education but also music as a means of self-expression, a means to have fun and a means for socializing," she said.
At semester's end, each student will perform in a musical project at the school's concert hall. The hall, fully equipped for lighting and sound, can accommodate 140 people and is available for rent.
Music Republicain
Jl. Fatmawati 8, Pondok Labu
South Jakarta
Phone: (021) 7511374
Located on the crowded Jl. Fatmawati in South Jakarta, the music school has just resumed its classes after taking a Christmas and New Year break.
The building of Music Republicain poses a unique facade for passerby in the crowded Fatmawati street. courtesy Music Republicain. (JP/Kurniawan Hari)
The office may be quiet, but any time a class begins, "the sound of music" can be heard coming from the 10 classrooms where students are practicing piano, voice or ensemble playing.
"This is a new institution which combines instruction in both music and personal image. We are offering someting different from other music schools," director Ivonne Atmojo told The Jakarta Post Thursday.
The school was designed with a philosophy that everyone has a particular interest and skill in music. With a customized approach, every student can develop his or her abilities.
Their open approach has attracted a broad range of music students of different backgrounds and ages. One student is barely four years old, another is 67.
"The idea is to make a place where everyone speaks the same language -- music -- regardless of their age," Ivonne said.
The director explained the school is flexible because she understood people choose to learn music for different reasons. Some people are aiming to become professionals while others want to play just for fun.
With each student's interest and goal in mind, the school also provides each student with a well-suited teacher or mentor from their staff. For this reason, the school also requires teachers to audition and pass through a detailed evaluation before joining the school.
The evaluation helps Ivonne and her team understand the strengths, weaknesses and general profile of their teachers.
"We also require our teachers to customize lesson plans so each student will get what they want from their experience," said Ivonne who holds a Master's degree from the US San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
The artful thing in this process, she said, is to match up the right teacher with the right student. Some foreign students want to learn in English so the school also employs teachers who can speak English.
At this school, students can learn music either just for fun or for a serious motive of becoming professional musician. For those who want to become professional, it is recommended they take a certified international test, the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).
But if they want to learn music for fun, they need not take this test.
Because many students take music classes after school, classes are scheduled at Music Republicain generally in the afternoons and evenings. Busy professionals have signed up for the evening choir class.
Music Republicain general manager Ivana stated she wanted the school to become a place for people to learn music as well as to further their interests.
"This is a place that offers more than just music education but also music as a means of self-expression, a means to have fun and a means for socializing," she said.
At semester's end, each student will perform in a musical project at the school's concert hall. The hall, fully equipped for lighting and sound, can accommodate 140 people and is available for rent.
Music Republicain
Jl. Fatmawati 8, Pondok Labu
South Jakarta
Phone: (021) 7511374
Source: Kurniawan Hari , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sun, 01/11/2009 10:03 AM | Lifestyle
