School Visits – Living Music Foundation

Ankole Western University (AWU) is situated on Kabwohe Hill. Most of the students at the Ankole Western University cannot afford to pay the tuition required in other big universities in the country, but they are given the chance to continue their education here.

The Vessels band (many members of whom are Living Music Foundation trainers) has been invited several times to perform for their functions and church services. In the past, some equipment was bought for this community, however there were no trained people to use them, so they were mishandled and become ruined.

Set of pictures of music performance — The Vessels Band during the performance earlier in the year.

Because of this long term relationship, the Living Music Foundation has taken it up to provide training to some of the current students at the university.

We enjoy the love, the will, and commitment of the students in our classes because they are giving such great effort to learn. They are always willing to work with the limiting amount of resources we have without complaint, so we all make the best out of what we can offer!

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Man teaching group of people about instruments — A lesson to demonstrate and introduce the instruments to the students

Earlier this year, the band went and performed at one of Ankole Western University’s community hours while hosting their Bishop in the service. The staff and students, as well as the leaders, loved the performance and the shared worship which led them to welcoming the LMF team to come back to train the students.

Set of pictures, people on motorbike, and in classroom — The journey to the Ankole classrooms!

Babrah and Disan Kato went back to the University to make a follow up and to prepare for the training to commence. They met the students and set a weekly training time for every Tuesday evening. The LMF team is very excited to continue to build this relationship and work with the Ankole students in the future!

People driving in a car for music lessons — The LMF team set out in a hired vehicle to the University carrying the guitars, keyboard, and half of the drums.

The Lessons

group of people learning to play on the keyboard — The keyboard lessons

Group of people learning to play guitar — The guitar lessons

Screen Shot 2018-07-31 at 5.09.45 PM — The drum lessons– hoping to have more students in the future!

Our First Visit

A team of four members of living music foundation visited Rwebiita Preparatory school on Wednesday 28th Feb. 2018. We had a great chat with the Director Mr. Mesharch Katusiime about Living Music Foundation and our programs in development. He whole heartedly welcomed the program and requested that we share the same information with the staff. The staff too welcomed us and requested that we put in a performance during one of the school’s “community hours,” which are aimed at inspiring and motivating the children, and some parents who normally come to bring lunch to their children.

Our First Performance

On Tuesday 6th March 2018, The Vessels band travelled to Rwebiita Preparatory School for our performance from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The band backed up the children and the kids were very excited to hear and join the band.

After the introductory music, the school’s Director, Dr. Mesharch, welcomed the Living Music Foundation team and introduced our program to the school. He invited Disan Kato, our Director, to introduce the team, explain the program, and then lead the band’s performance.

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Disan introduced the team and explained the desire of The Vessels Band to share their music skills with the community; thus, Living Music Foundation was bornand Rwebiita Preparatory School chosen as one of the pioneer schools to begin implementing our programs. The children and the staff were all very excited, so Disan started right away by teaching them a song. The song was simple for the students, teachers, and parents to learn and immediately the band began playing it. After singing it twice, Disan invited a pupil to lead and a good number of pupils turned up. A boy and a girl did it well and it truly kicked off the performance.

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After several songs, the administration together with the visiting parents appreciated the performance and pledged their time and support. Director Dr. Mesharch pledged to buy the Keyboard and a guitar so that training can start at the school.

Our Plans for the Future

Living Music Foundation will schedule another meeting with the administration at the school to start choir training and then training on musical instruments will come later, possibly next term in May 2018. All in all, it was a nice and a memorable day for the school and our team.