| dc.description.abstract | Good morning
First I welcome you to Kabarak University for this week’s music
conference feel at home in our midst.
Kabarak University has a reach history of music. This institution was
founded by H. E Daniel Arap Moi, the Second President of the Republic
of Kenya who indeed has a lot of interest in music. It may interest you to
know that every day, a lot of music is performed in the Kabarak
institutions. The Kabarak chapel has hosted many musicians and
concerts. Such musicians and choirs include Kenyans, Tanzanians,
Ugandans, Europeans and Americans.
The first music conference was held here in the year 2010. I am happy to
report that during that time three main books were launched by H.E
Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi. I am also informed that research and
publication of these books were sponsored wholly by the Second
president. At the same time a host of music scholars and researchers in
various areas of church music were also involved.
This conference aims at discussing research findings in various areas of
church music and music education. These findings have a lot of policy
implications in the area of curriculum development in Kenya and Africa
at large. It is important to note that the current constitutional
dispensation guarantees freedom of worship while at the same time
makes demand that Kenyan children must access free education. This
implies that this conference papers can be used by the government to
improve educational practices and music performance throughout the
country.
Kabarak University is in the process of starting a school of music that
shall teach and conduct research in various areas of musicology, music
education and performance. It is because of this that I would like to
welcome you all to Kabarak University and in a way urge you to
participate and assist us to establish a school of music founded on
biblical Christian Values.
Music education and performance has been delivered in Kenya before
and after independence. This shows the significance attached by
government and private citizens to music. Elsewhere it has been found
out that those who play piano and sing often tend to have superior
cognitive skills related scientific and mathematical tasks. Music is used
for therapeutical purposes in hospitals. Performance of music is also a
worthwhile economic activity which many artists have used to earn a
living. Music is used as a means of cultural adaptation and transmission.
Music is used in spreading the word of God the world over besides being
a means of creating national cohesion and patriotism.
Music industry is currently a major foreign exchange earner in our
country. For all these reasons, it is regrettable that music has been
removed from among subjects being examined at the primary school
level.
I would like to urge you scholars to partner with Kabarak University and
mount revival campaign for music performance and reconsideration of
education policies which are friendly to music.
In conclusion, I would like to urge music organizations like UNESCO to
increase their funding of music education and related activities. The
government must also support research in music and provision of
scholarships to music students. Kabarak University and KAMAE would
like to impress upon the world that music education and performance
should be prioritized in national budget so that talent development can
be achieved in Kenya.
So ladies and gentlemen, mine is to wish you God’s blessing as you go
through the conference. May ideas about musicology be generated for
the blessing of all people and the advancement of God’s Kingdom.
Thank you and blessings to you all. | en_US |
