Innovation at work – the children playing music using improvised instruments

The children show off their dance moves

Students and the StART children sing together at the finale

Kuala Lumpur, 30 July 2010 - Students from UCSI University’s University Life course are doing their part to reach out to the community. On Friday, the students, all within the University’s School of Music, raised RM2047.60 during a joint concert at the University’s South Wing Campus for StART Society, an organization that teaches art and music to underprivileged children.

The two-month long project culminated with a program, “Music Brings Us Together,” that included both contemporary and classical music and dance performances from both the School of Music and StART students, including one number performed together.

It means a lot to (my kids) to go on to a public stage and hear the applause, it really validates what they’re doing,” StART Society Program Director Joshua Lee said. “It was nice for them to find big brothers and big sisters taking an interest in them.”

Lee said the School of Music students met with the StART children on several occasions to prepare, and the whole experience helped improved the kids’ self-esteem. He said most of the participants in StART come from broken families and have either been orphaned, abandoned or abused.

Dr. Christine Tan, a lecturer at UCSI University’s School of Music and the instructor for its University Life course, said the concert was a way to teach her students important life skills.

“I think it’s important for them to have leadership, outreach and responsibility and to give back to society with their talent,” she said. “These children have the privilege to learn music. (Other than that) they have nothing.”

University Life is an introductory level course offered to first-year students to help them transition to the university environment. The course covers topics such as time management, cultural diversity and effective communication to help align students with UCSI University’s Graduate Attributes, which include qualities such as civic responsibility, leadership and being an engaged global citizen.