Western classical music is already taught in India by local teachers, there being several hundred specialist music schools. However, whilst the standard can be high, the teaching is often narrowly focused on passing examinations, with excellent technical content, but lacking the breadth and the depth of feeling and enjoyment which make music so much more than just a routine. Indian teachers have told us that the greatest difficultly they face is a lack of exposure to the culture, and so the presence of an enthusiastic young musician with greater experience and understanding of Western classical music is an inspiration and a huge help.

The opportunity arises from the experience of two teenage musicians, Duncan Ward and Esme Anderson, who spent a month teaching children in four different Music schools in Kerala in 2006. Both are accomplished musicians and Duncan is former Principal Composer and Keyboard player of the National Youth Orchestra and winner of the 2005 BBC Young Composer of the Year award. Their trip was originally suggested by their piano teacher, Nadia Lasserson, who has herself toured India, giving concerts and master classes.

The idea

The tremendous reception they received has convinced them that they should establish a small organisation to open up a similar opportunity for others. The output after only two weeks was an astonishing transformation in the children’s ability, and a substantial expansion of their repertoires, including concert performances for parents, which the schools would not previously have contemplated.

In opening up this opportunity to others, there are four main benefits:

1. The benefit to the Indian pupils is enormous, as stated above.
2. It will facilitate the entry of talented Indian pupils to western music colleges.
3. It may play a small, but significant role in developing cultural understanding between West and East.
4. There are huge benefits for young British musicians, in getting a life changing experience at a young age and getting privileged insights into a very different culture than the one they grew up in.

Through our discussions during the course of researching the WAM concept, there have been many excellent suggestions of further ways in which the organisation could develop, in promoting the mutual benefits of cultural exchange. These include the following:

• Sending students to orphanages and poorer schools
• Increasing the range of instruments covered
• Sending postgraduates on longer term attachments of 1 year or more
• Bringing Indian music and Indian musicians to the West in exchange.
• Arranging concerts on a reciprocal basis
• Extending the concept to other developing countries

All of the above are included in our possible long-term objectives. Indeed one of the reasons for the support we have received from Trinity College, London and Trinity College of Music is that they both see the possibility of WAM expanding, with their help, to make a significant contribution towards cultural exchange through music between the West and the developing world.


Pilot scheme

Whilst keeping these ideas in mind, the 2009 pilot scheme will focus on sending 8 young British pianists to teach in Indian music schools (piano is by far the most popular instrument). We anticipate that, altogether, they will teach at least 500 pupils and we shall be attaching great importance to involving the local teachers in the process, so that they too learn from the experience.

Clear teaching and learning objectives will be set, the results of this initiative will be measured and analysed, and assuming it is successful, we shall develop plans to roll out the WAM concept on a larger scale, doubtless including some of the various suggestions listed above.

Our team and supporters

The initiative will be led by Duncan Ward and Esme Anderson, with the support of Michael Maslinski, an experienced banker and management consultant, who is closely involved with several Charities and a former Governor of the English Speaking Union.

The initiative will have the active support and involvement of the European Piano Teachers Association, Trinity College London and Trinity College of Music. We have also been offered support by The British High Commissioner in India, the British Council and the English Speaking Union. We are in conversation with Delhi Music Society and a number of Indian music schools.

The name and the legal structure

WAM represents the initials of the founders (Ward Anderson Maslinski) and also stands for Worldwide Appreciation of Music. The WAM foundation is a charitable trust (registered no.1125689) and the Trustees are Michael, Esme and Duncan. We shall be recruiting one further experienced trustee in due course and expanding our current advisory board, which is led by Sir Rob Young, former British High Commissioner in India.