The Outreach Music Interest Courses (OMIC) organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are now open for applications. Members of the public are welcome to apply for over 100 courses, ranging from Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes to music workshops, which will be held from September to February next year.

     The OMIC will launch two new workshops, including the Parent Workshop on "Music Enlightenment and Learning for Children", which will introduce to parents how to conduct musical activities with children aged 2 to 6 with a view to enriching the musical experience of children in daily lives. The "e-Accompaniment of Cantonese Operatic Songs" is designed for adults with performance experience of Cantonese operatic songs. Participants will learn basic accompaniment techniques of Cantonese operatic songs through the use of free music app "Yueju Accomp". The fees of the courses are $175 and $430 respectively.

     In addition, the Music Office will offer introductory courses on little harp, keyboard, classical guitar and folk guitar; instrumental enrichment courses of erhu, liuqin, pipa, yangqin, zheng, violin, cello and percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad); ensemble training of Chinese and Western music; Western music theory (Grades 1 and 2); aural training; and "Let's e-Orch!", a workshop for adults to learn ensemble playing by using free music app "GarageBand". The course fees range from $260 to $1,070.

     Other Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes include erhu, liuqin, pipa, yangqin, zheng, dizi, xiao, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone and percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad). The course fee is $1,140 each.

     Online music courses include the "ABC of Musicianship", which is designed for adult beginners to learn about basic music elements, rhythmic training and sight-singing techniques, as well as introductory courses of kalimba and ukulele. The fees of the courses range from $345 to $430.

     All OMIC are conducted in small groups in Cantonese. Participants of online courses are required to prepare their own electronic device equipped with a wireless or broadband data connection, a webcam and Zoom software in advance. On-site courses will be held at different venues across the territory, namely Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong City Hall, Sha Tin Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, North District Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library and the Music Office's music centres in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan.
 
     Online applications are now available on the Music Office website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice). Course prospectuses and application forms are also available at various performance venues of the LCSD and music centres of the Music Office. The deadline for applications is July 20. Oversubscribed courses will be processed by ballot. For courses not fully taken up after the first round of application, places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis from August 16 onwards.

     For enquiries, please call 3842 7773, 2598 0801 or 2598 8335 or email to outreachmusic@lcsd.gov.hk.

Ends/Monday, July 3, 2023
Issued at HKT 15:00

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