By: Newton Kalua

Music Crossroads Academy Malawi students were on Wednesday, 4 February, 2020 equipped with music production skills based on environmental sound composition, during a workshop held at the academy.

Since Music Crossroads’ syllabus is centered on more advanced skills in music, the idea behind the organisation of the workshop was warmly welcomed because its elements were concurring to the academy’s standards.

The workshop; ‘Our Malawi; No Words Needed’ exhibition, was facilitated by veteran artists; Guy Fleisher and Noam Friedman.

The facilitators have been touring the country from the Southern Region to the Northern Regions to do exhibitions, and in the process, they were in search of a local music school to do a workshop so that students are able to grasp some skills in music production.

After the workshop, Fleisher said having such an opportunity to work with the students, and of course passing on the skills to the up-and-coming stars in the trade, makes it a good feeling.

“I first saw the work done here at Music Crossroads online and I was interested to visit a local music school. I believe in passing onwards knowledge I have, and as soon as I came across the opportunity to do a class concerning environmental sound composition and production, I jumped on it,” said Fleisher.

The workshop was a remarkable experience to the students, whom Fleisher described as very nice and receptive, because of their real interest in the subject.

At the workshop students were assigned to come up with different environmental sounds, and with the sounds they managed to compose a track together through Ableton Live 10 (Suite).

Fleisher indicated that: “they [students] actively participated, and we all enjoyed very much. We even collaborated on our own short environmental composition, recorded by the students themselves.”

During the presentation, he also made it clear to the students that all software programmes are similar despite being of different brands, and he urged them to think beyond limits and explore more in order to come up with good production.

The students were excited about the initiative, and commenting on the matter, one of the students Peacewell Chikapa said: “to me the workshop was so helpful. I have learned that we can be able to make good music from anything that surrounds us, for example I have learnt how to use some effects like Phaser which gives a nice bounce back sound, more like an echo. All these will make my music to sound better.”

“This plus the professional lessons I am acquiring here at Music Crossroads shall surely make me the best producer and sound engineer Malawi has ever had.”

On the development of music in the country, Fleisher also said he feels that the music here [in Malawi] is very modern, and moves very fast, and indicated that he would like to see more documentation of folklore music [which is also in Music Crossroads syllabus] and dance, especially from the rural areas, because he feels the richness of the music here in Malawi should lean on it’s past, as well as the modern foothold it has.

Meanwhile, after the music workshop, Friedman came up with an exciting interactive photography exhibition about Malawi as a country which emphasised on the unique character of the warm heart of Africa (Malawi).

When asked to explain the whole idea in coming up with the exhibition, she said: “the photography and sound environments we have collected while traveling create a multisensory, immersive experience, allowing the viewers to gather their own concepts about the country through the people, music, nature and culture as seen in day to day events. So, our main aim was to show our travels, but to allow the viewers to have their own experience while walking in the exhibition, and in essence, to experience their own Malawi.”

One of exhibited photo

The workshop was a step ahead in the students’ careers since it has helped them to supplement to what they acquire at Music Crossroads and to appreciate what others do in sound art, and also to get inspiration from environmental sound samples, and hopefully enrich their musical palette.

Reacting to the development, the academy’s Acting Manager, Matilda Salima Milz, was full of praise and enthusiasm about the project by the Israeli facilitators.

“Yesterday’s workshop was first of its kind. It was the first time hosting an exhibition of this kind. Music is not only about performing in front of people, there is much more we can do, which is exactly what we always offer at Music Crossroads and it concurs to what Guy and Noam emphasised. The workshop has opened up students’ minds even more to think outside the box in their innovative ideas. And I would advise them to make use of what they have learnt,” Milz excitedly explained.