Bring out the sound, it’s Achievers time

ROBYN SASSEN

Research has shown that exposure to the do-re-mis of making music can enhance a child’s perception of the world around him. Music is good for a young person’s mathematical comprehension and it stretches the intellect in the same way that learning a new language does.

Above all, being part of a musical entity opens social doors for a young person that few other learned skills can do. And it is with these principles in mind that the Field Band Foundation was formed, 18 years ago.

RIGHT: Some of the members of the Field Band who entertained the audience during the dinner

With a burst of brass blasts here, and lots of bashing of percussion there, the melodious resonance of a pan drum here and the glorious spectacle of shining musical instruments played by children there, guests at this year’s Jewish Achiever Awards on Sunday, were entertained by the young members of the Field Band Foundation, which made for a special opening to an already special event.

The Foundation is an innovative, successful youth social development organisation built on the principles of a creative after school programme, outside the formal education sector and modelled on the Drum Corps or Show Bands practised in other countries.

Registered as a Non-Profit Organisation, when it was established in 1996, by Plate Glass and Shatterprufe Industries Ltd the band, traditionally comprising 120 players aged between 7 and 21, plays a range of musical instruments, from great big tubas to tiny little triangles, and has underlying principles that enhances the process of social cohesion and moral regeneration, allowing the exchange of cultural and educational experiences.

LEFT: One of the Foundation’s Field Bands at the 2009 SA Champs

The Field Band played outside the Achievers venue as guests were arriving, they played while guests were chatting in the main venue’s vestibule and they enjoyed time onstage, during the evening’s proceedings.

In the pursuit of eradicating poverty and underdevelopment in disadvantaged communities, the Foundation creates opportunities for skills development, teaching discipline, focus and essential life-skills to serve over 6 000 young people in building self-sustaining livelihoods.