PORTUGAL: Music schools educate over 1,300 youth
Students learning music and important life skills
(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries understand the importance of music education for youth. Thanks to a qualified teaching staff, Salesian music schools in Portugal are open to all students as well as people of all ages. Lessons on individual instruments, ensemble music lessons, general training, composition and production are just some of the courses offered. The training also includes live performances at school shows, auditions and concerts.
Salesian music schools are found in cities including in Lisbon, Estoril, Évora and Porto, and there is the Dom Bosco Music Center in Manique. Across these schools, there are 1,300 students taught by 100 teachers.
A Salesian said, “The education offered at Salesian music schools is rich and fruitful. Students not only learn the music skills taught but learn life skills in working collaboratively, dedication to a talent and an appreciation of the arts.”
In Estoril students have access to education in a range of instruments as well as singing, collective combo lessons (pop/rock or jazz band), vocal ensemble, history of music, multimedia production and writing lyrics. In Évora, students are exposed to musical initiation and a general course in musical, instrumental or singing training and ensemble music classes. There is also a free course offered. In Porto, students can learn a range of instruments and participate in the children’s choir.
At the Dom Bosco Music Center in Manique, there are classes on different instruments, musical training, chorus and the maintenance of acoustic pianos. In Lisbon, the leader of the Salesian music schools produced the Don Bosco Musical staged during last summer’s World Youth Day. There, lessons range from courses on individual instruments to general training, an improvisation workshop, music production and music technology.
According to the World Bank there are close to 2.6 million people living below the poverty line in Portugal, 487,000 of whom are under the age of 18. The country is one of the most unequal countries in Europe as far as wealth distribution. Wealthy citizens earn five times the rate of income than those living in poverty.
Salesians provide education and social development programs to ensure youth have access to education so they can learn the skills for later employment, helping them lead self-sufficient lives.
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Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
ANS – Portugal – Salesian Music Schools: Music, Body and Soul
World Bank – Portugal
