Dubai: Musicians often talk about their artistic lineage. The endowment of techniques, musical philosophies and disciplines, passed on from teacher to student. American composer, Philip Glass, stressed the importance of having a qualified music mentor. He charts the manifestation of his instantly-recognisable style to many of his personal teachers, including Nadia Boulanger and Ravi Shankar. Also recognising the importance of a proficient music education, Laith Michel, founder of the Dubai-based Brooklyn Melodies Music Centre, trots around the globe on manhunts for qualified musicians to teach at the nine branches situated around Dubai.
“The idea of opening a music school first came to me when I was looking for a good music school to enrol my child in,” Michel, who is a classically trained pianist, said.
“However, I could not find any music school that satisfied me so I decided to open my own. We opened our first branch in Mirdif in 2007. It became so successful that we decided to branch out. Two weeks ago, I’m pleased to say, we opened our ninth branch in Jumeirah Park.”
Michel said that the music centre now caters to almost 2,500 students.
“We have about 60 teachers assigned across our nine branches. All our teachers work full-time, so they can really focus on their work. I’m very picky about choosing who educates the centre’s students. I frequently travel to conservatories and academies around the world, conducting meetings and interviews to find the most capable instructors.”
Although a large portion of the students at Brooklyn Melodies Music Centre are between the ages of 6 to 14, Michel said the centre teaches a number of adult students.
“It’s really never too late to start,” Laith said, “especially if you put in the effort to practise at home. Of course, it makes a difference if you start at six years old.”
Internationally accredited curriculum
Brooklyn Melodies Music Centre follows an internationally accredited curriculum. “Many people come to Dubai and then travel again a few years later,” Laith said, “our programme is accepted worldwide so students can further pursue their music education even if they leave the country.”
Laith said that the centre primarily focuses on classical music, but also teaches jazz and rock.
“Classical music is a great base to study any other kind of music,” he said, “Once you have a classical background you can pursue jazz, rock or whatever. However, it is much harder to shift into classical music if you’ve concentrated on another genre for a long time.”
According to Laith, the majority of students prefer piano, guitar and violin. However, there are also courses offered in the trumpet, drums, saxophone, flute, theory, as well as a range of dance and vocal courses.
Speaking about the differences between privately hiring a teacher or taking classes at an institute, Laith said that “a parent who has no formal music education cannot determine what their child is learning. An accredited music centre supervises what the child’s education. Here, we check the progress of our students on a monthly and yearly basis and at the end of every year we evaluate both our students and teachers.”
“Unfortunately, many people undermine the advantage of a music education. Music builds confidence, independence and helps mould a respectable personality. You cannot find a teenager today, who plays classical music, looking for trouble on the streets.”
Jorjeta Dyulgerova came to Dubai with her band, before Laith asked her to teach piano at the centre.
“My dad was a jazz musician. I followed in his steps, graduating from the Bulgarian conservatory and then pursuing jazz. I travelled all around the world, performing in various places. Dubai was the first place I thought I could stay for a longer period of time.”
Dyulgerova said that it is important to follow an education with a curriculum, but it is just as vital to have an individual approach.
“Some students come in and want to strictly study classical music, while others don’t. I try my best to tailor the studies to an individual’s needs, while still ensuring they get proper training and literacy.”
Brooklyn Melodies Music Centre holds eight to ten student concerts every year. A concert featuring the school’s teachers is also held once a year. The latest was held on November 17 at the Mina A’ Salam Hotel.
“The performances are important to instil a sense of musicianship. To develop confidence and get rid of stage fright. Funnily enough, I’ve noticed that our younger students are less prone to stage fright.”
The centre’s guitar teacher, John Valeri, lived in the US for more than 20 years, playing in many acclaimed venues such as the Apollo theatre and the Woodstock festival.
“I started playing the guitar while I was still living in Bulgaria,” he said, “I was in a successful rock band then was part of a Miles Davis tribute band. I’ve spent my whole life learning, playing and teaching music. I’ve had great teachers. I wanted to share the knowledge so I started teaching myself. I’ve found that teaching has made me a better human being and a better musician. To teach, you need to relearn things.”
Valeri said that he teaches students between the ages of seven and 40. While he concentrates his teaching on classical guitar, he has no issues teaching jazz, rock, Latin or flamenco guitar.
“A few days ago, I showed a student of mine some flamenco music. He was flushed with excitement as he had never been exposed to the genre before. I was reminded of how I felt when I first heard Miles Davis.”
