Bajan Sun Magazine - Caribbean Entrepreneurs Vol1 Issue 5 | Page 45

BAJAN SUN Bajan Sun Magazine JULY 2014 BARBADIAN Diaspora IN MUSIC Music Enharmony LLC Ruth-Ann's love for music started at a young age and much of what she learnt came from her mother. Despite being born to parents of Bajan descent, Ruth-Ann Lewis lives in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. However, driven by her passion to stay close to her roots, Ruth -Ann wishes to make an impact within the Barbados Music Arena. She has already started, establishing her own small music studio and demanding excellence from her students. It is her wish that there be a network of schools in the West Indies where (1.) musical education comes first; (2.) students can see the possibilities of a future in music; (3.) where we are no longer limited in the field of music and (4.) where an active exchange increases the productivity and progress of music education. Therefore, creating an impact in our part of the world if not even farther. Ruth-Ann's Music Studio in SVG, T.h.&.M.e.S. Music Studio®, offers a variety of music classes for children and adults. Practical instrument lessons include piano, violin, viola, cello, guitar, bass guitar, percussion, flute, voice, harp, among others. Music Theory classes are available separately so that students that fall into the categories such as the "would be composers" category have the opportunity to take theory at a serious pace. Ruth-Ann is trying to encourage ensemble work and consistent performance from her students. The school's curriculum ensures that students learn how to write about music and this opens doors for students interested in fields of study such as Ethnomusicology, a necessary field to ensure that traditional and folk music in the West Indies does not disappear. In her own words: "I love it when my students think." RuthAnn declares with a smirk. "My goal is to encourage music intelligence and drive so that eventually my students will exceed me in areas of music that I have mastered myself, as well as areas that I have not mastered. Simply put, areas they love." Ruth-Ann's music studies began at a young age, relying on her mother who eventually ran a piano music studio. Ruth-Ann later joined her mother at the age of 10 teaching a few young piano students. Ruth-Ann was obviously ambitious, and her mother encouraged that ambition. As such, after Ruth-Ann passed the grade 5 ABRSM piano exam her mother sent her to study with the most prominent music teacher on the island at that time, Mr. "Pat" Prescod. Although young and careless, Ruth-Ann learned two vital aspects of music: (1.) in music performance, always find the meaning of the piece and express that with your own heart; and (2.) in music teaching, give reasons and motivation for your students to love music, the piece, and the instrument they play. "That burning impression of Mr. Prescod playing one of her pieces on the piano has never left her. Since then, it has been her goal as a performer to make her music come alive." 45 www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | [email protected] | @BajanSunOnline