By Rozahlia Dorante
Torres Strait Kaziw Meta boarders have taken their love of music-making to a new level, completing a 9 day guitar program with Australian musician and guitar tutor Kurtley Ghanimeh.
Despite already being familiar with the guitar, each class was designed to give boarders the practical musical skills, confidence and inspiration to continue learning independently. Boarders also learnt how to tune and maintain guitars, identify the different parts of the instrument and read chord charts and rhythm patterns.
Students made noticeable progress through learning to play some of their favourite songs. For Kurt, this was an important measure of the workshop’s success.
“The goal was not simply to teach children a few guitar chords. It was to give them the confidence to pick up an instrument, make music themselves and discover something they might want to continue with.”
TSKM CEO, Thomas Dunsmore said the workshop nurtured boarders and their interests.
“We often hear our boarders singing, playing guitar and making up songs,” Mr Dunsmore said.
“Through this program, we have given them access to professional support to take that interest further, write their own music and songs and feel confident in themselves,”
“Eso to our houseparents for organising the music lessons and listening to the needs of our boarders,” Mr Dunsmore added.
When he left, Kurtley gifted his students a Custom Song Book featuring songs selected around the students’ own musical interests.
He also provided Torres Strait Kaziw Meta additional resources, including guitar tuners and capos, encouraging more guitar playing beyond his visit.
