Six-year-olds sit in front of their xylophones and drums looking expectantly at their teacher Moira Barbieri, waiting for her signal to start playing.
The more musicians we have, the more to create a momentum, the more Maltese culture will benefit
When she nods, they all start clinking and jangling in complete synchronisation and harmony.
By the end, riotous applause from the audience leaves them beaming and wanting to do it all over again.
It was Open Day at the School of Music in Valletta last weekend.
The school’s 800 students milled around, most watching and supporting their peers who displayed their talents under teachers’ guidance.
The sound of instruments – piano, harp, horns, trombones, drums, flutes and violins – emanated from all classrooms as teachers took the opportunity to advise parents of present and prospective students.
The children in Ms Barbieri’s class are the youngest.
“At this age our job is to guide the children to choose the right instrument for them,” she said. “It is such a great satisfaction for me that even at this age I can help them to learn to start feeling pulse and rhythm.”
The foundation work of the first few years makes the children appreciate music in its holistic way, she said.
However, the school does not cater only for little ones. Acting head Monica Bugeja said the school’s students range from six to 70, and it is free for children under 16 and those over 60.
“Age does not make a difference as long as you are committed and have a passion to want to learn an instrument,” said Ms Bugeja.
This was the school’s first Open Day, aiming to make it more widely known, attract prospective students and give them opportunity to talk to the tutors.
Jazz player Joe Debono, a tutor at the school, said that is important to constantly generate interest.
“The more musicians we have, the more we create a momentum, and the more Maltese culture will benefit,” he told an audience following his session on introduction to jazz theory.
Ms Bugeja believes music goes beyond children learning an instrument. “A love of music nurtures a love of culture,” she said, adding that several former students today perform with the National Philharmonic orchestra, have won scholarships, or are working in the music field locally and abroad.
The vibrant activity was unfortunately not reflected in the drab school building. The original premises – the old palatial building of Johann Strauss in Old Bakery Street – was closed down three years ago because it was deemed too dilapidated to house students.
The school has been relocated to temporary premises, sharing St Elmo Primary School in Valletta and using classrooms at the Junior College in Msida. Several classes take place in government schools in the afternoon.
Cultural activist and musician Sigmund Mifsud has been closely observing this saga over the years and finds it absurd that the school has “no ‘house’”.
“You need teachers working hand in hand with classes next door to each other for optimum interaction and for talent to flourish,” he said, adding classes spread all over the place were a stumbling block.
“I cannot believe how the Johann Strauss building could not have been made safer and modernised – it was the ideal location bang in the middle of the city of culture,” said Mr Mifsud.
Ideally the school should no longer fall under the lifelong learning system: “We need to take music more seriously and focus on nurturing music from a young age.”
He suggested adult learning should be within the realm of leisure learning, perhaps in conjunction with local councils, whereas the School of Music should focus on tapping the young potential Malta has to offer.