The Andiamo Music School is at last, though at the very beggining, here to stay and contribute towards the change in advancing of music proffesionalism and education to the nation and internationally.I am very pleased to note that our ideas and efforts to establish this instituition is warmly welcome by the government and many upcoming musicians. Welcome aboard.

Charles Sinetre - Music School Director

ANDIAMO MUSIC SCHOOL

The Andiamo Youth Co-operative Trust was established in 1977 and has since helped youth in Malawi and other neighboring countries to develop a desire to learn and play musical instruments among other things. With its Band called Alleluya, which from the time it started playing music to the recent years, has modeled and taught lots of young people some of whom have become independent enough to form their own bands like Paul Banda who was the first band leader of the group and his brother Lucius Banda who now owns Zembani Band and Zembani Music Co. Ltd, Ken Kantazi who is now doing music business in RSA, Charles Sineta who is now the driving force behind the Alleluya Band and the Andiamo Music School, the forming of Tiyamike Band and such influence of other well known musicians in Malawi.

The Band has managed to do this without formal training but by self-taught, and because of their efforts and potential the band has managed to tour some African countries like Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Republic of South Africa, Tanzania. In Europe, Germany, Australia and the Band has embraced big concerts, like in the year 2000 they performed before Pope John Paul II in the Vatican during the jubilee for the parliamentarians.

The Band has attained best band of the year Awards for several years, from 1990 to 1996 and indeed the best performers in some of the music competitions in the country like the Kuche Kuche beer promotions in the year (2002 to 2004). Some of the breed of Alleluya Band has also had some of their songs qualified as songs of the year like Coss Chiwalo, the current Band Leader with “Afisi aku Ntcheu” a traditional song and Rod Valamanja and Paul Subili to mention a few.

1. THE MUSIC SCHOOL

It is one of its kind offering senior primary school full syllabus and courses in music and dances to everyone who would want to pursue music as a career or for leisure play. We want to develop the importance of music professional qualification from early stages. In 2009, we will commence our first senior primary school full music syllabus adopting the LCM (London College of Muscic examinations Board) as our testing board and full primary school syllabus to enable our students study music and circular education under one roof. And in 2010 we will extend to our Andiamo Secondary School.

All our courses will be taught in English and offered in grades from 1 to 8 and later on we’ll introduce diploma, degrees e.t.c but people can enroll with us to write London College of Music examinations at any level at our center. For details contact Charles Sineta on 00265 8987530, 00265 1545281, 00265 8897530 or send your enquiry to sinetre@yahoo.co.uk or andiamusschool@yahoo.co.uk
(Andiamo Music School, P.O. Box 314, Balaka)

LECTURES, TUTORS AND TEACHERS.

Mr. Charles Sineta who was studying Music at the Thames Valley University in the UK for three years as part of the preparations to open the school has returned home and will team up with fellow well qualified Italian tutors to satisfy and bring the music profession to a desired level.

Have you ever wondered why we have few or no music schools and colleges in the country or in the neighboring countries? Or have you ever wished you would pursue music lessons and be a real musician? If you tried, what problems did you encounter?
The answer is just a phone call away from you and you’ll not regret to enroll with us for your music lessons or for your graded exams in any instrument given to you by the London College of Music (LCM) Thames Valley University (UK)

A music school will never be like any other school business whether private or anything. It is a kind of social institution where you are let to grow and develop your life career and the Andiamo Music School is bridging you and make your dreams of becoming a professional musician come true. We are bringing every thing near your reach in any field of music i.e. as a dancer, composer, and singer e.t.c. and to meet this, you need to live like a family, which is the first social institution to help you achieve your goal.

To set up a Music school really needs a lot of preparations, it’s not only enough to have material resources but also human resources well dedicated and qualified music teachers, career guidance, teachers with patience and understanding, that is why I repeat to say you will not regret to enroll for music classes with us because we have the experience and you will be taught by well qualified teachers and write examinations from two major countries well known in the formation of Music………..Italy and United Kingdom.

2. AFRICAN MUSIC

It is one of the best genres of music the world enjoys. Our uniqueness comes in with the type of rhythm and heaviness of drums and the whole squad of music percussions. The world is now enjoying the fusion of African music and the western cultural music such as Hip-hop, R&B e.t.c. This is possible because of the music exploration made in some parts of African countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Senegal in which there is rich African cultural music with the famous percussion and drums like Jembe and many others. Malawi’s Music still remains in-tact and maintain its flavours. That is why we feel that the Malawi nation i.e. the people, the ministries responsible, the private sector, the education sector has the responsibility to maintain and promote activities leading to preserve the Malawi’s culture through music, and Andiamo Music School is ready for the challenges by offering courses in Malawi cultural drumming and dancing lessons and other African percussions to students.

3. ENTRY QUALIFICATION

At the moment there are no entry requirements but standard 6-8 for the graded classes and 15-18 of age, written and spoken English with passes, credit or distinction is a must.
And for you to register with LCM graded exams you need to have MSCE or its equivalent, good command in English for grades 1-8 and for Diploma or higher level you need to have grades 8 or its equivalent taken from a recognized institution, college or university.

AUDITION

We’ll always organize an audition for entry students in all grades and higher learning levels.
To book appointments call the numbers in the contact page.

4. ACCREDITATION QUALIFICATIONS

The Andiamo Music School in connection with the London College of Music Examination Board, the Thames Valley University, United Kingdom is setting up an examination center right in the warm heart of Africa, to assure you of our dedication to professional qualification, efforts have been put together by the director of London College of Music Examinations Board professor John Howard and Charles Sineta to have this center in place as soon as the Andiamo Music School opens its doors.

5. FINANCIAL

This is an important factor you need to take into consideration when you think of studying in your own country or overseas. To study in the UK you may need about $15,000 - $18,000 per year for your accommodation, welfare, transport and school fees. It is indeed very expensive. The time has come now for you to have all the music qualifications you need to be fully recognized just here in Malawi, organize yourself, get set, go e-mail sinetre@yahoo.co.uk or andiamusschool@yahoo.co.uk or get your phone, call 002658961761,002659897530, 002658987530, we are just at the other end waiting for your call.
Our school fees and accommodation are relatively affordable.

SHORT COURSES
The music school will also offer short courses in:

1. MUSIC

a. Choir: If you are preparing for your recordings, we will be at your disposal do music recording coaching for your best recordings. our Andiamo recording studio will be happy to record your music

b. Church Music: You want to have a pianist or a keyboard player in your church, here comes your chance to have a short preparatory course, crush programme lessons to help you praise the Lord through singing, dancing and playing of musical instruments during church functions.

2. LANGUAGES
a. Chichewa
We recognize the importance of communication through speech and people of different races and languages use different communication skills, and to promote communication in a Malawi society we will offer Chichewa basic lessons to visitors, tourists from all over the world. Courses will run from 1 week – 1 month at our Andiamo Music School campus.

b. English
Malawi was once a British protectorate and English has been the only official language even after independence and because of this every Malawian is able to use English as a second language for communication.

It has been and it always easier for Malawian to travel to most English speaking countries without problems. It is also our aim to promote English to our music students who will be practicing and writing music in English and other languages, all this to emphasise that Education matters in every field of a career.

c. Italian:
If you have ever come across a music staff notation you’ll see that music is in Italian, Example:

DO RE MI FA SOL LA SI (TI) DO
This is not English, the similar thing written in English, reads
C D E F G A B C
Now by knowing the importance, we will offer you Italian language to make you feel at ease when taking these music lessons with us, on the other hand Italian language is very fantastic and you’ll enjoy words like ciao, bene which sounds really nice even when mixed with our own languages.