World Music Views “Inspire Music” Program
June 17, 2022 | Donovan Watkis | Donovan Watkis, host of music chart show and Global Head Of Music website worldmusicviews.com (WORLD MUSIC VIEWS) on TVJ, donated a keyboard, headphones and mic to the Jacks Hill Infant And Primary School to kickstart their music programs. Along with musical instruments Watkis also donated copies of his new book Cultural Capital To Financial Capital: Reggae Dancehall for the school’s library.
The donation is the first stop in the World Music Views And CULCAP “Music Inspire” program aimed at encouraging children to learn music at an early age.
The children played a keyboard for the first time and were treated to a performance by Marquis Watkis. Watkis said, “ I found out a few weeks ago that the Jacks Hill Infant And Primary School did not have a music program, neither did the children have access to musical instruments. This is the case in several school across Jamaica, a place where music is heartbeat of the people.”
“I decided that I’ll donate one musical instrument to several schools starting with Jacks Hill Infant And Primary from the proceeds of my latest book Cultural Capital To Financial Capital,” he continued.
The principal of Jacks Hill Infant And Primary school , Mr. Forbes expressed gratitude for the gifts and promised to get a full time music teacher on staff for the school as a result of the donations.
“So I grabbed my son from school and have him accompany me to donate a new keyboard, headphones and a mic to the school. The children’s faces lit up as they played the keyboard for the first time, many of them saying they always wanted to do music and will become musicians.”
A study done at the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute found that musical experiences in childhood can actually accelerate brain development, Music ignites all areas of child development and skills for school readiness, including intellectual, social-emotional, motor, language, and overall literacy. It helps the body and the mind work together. Exposing children to music during early development helps them learn the sounds and meanings of words. Dancing to music helps children build motor skills while allowing them to practice self-expression. For children and adults, music helps strengthen memory skills.
Through the program, World Music Views and CULCAP will be donating more musical instruments to children across the island.
Source Donovan Watkis
