​Outreach Music Interest Courses (OMICs) organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are now open for applications. Members of the public are welcome to apply for an array of courses, ranging from Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes to music workshops, which will be held from September to February next year.
​Introductory courses available include harmonica, little harp, keyboard, classical vocal singing, classical guitar and ukulele. Instrumental enrichment courses include erhu, zheng, pipa and violin. There are also ensemble training of Chinese and Western music, music theory (Grades 1 and 2) and aural training. The course fees range from $290 to $1,200.
​Other Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes will cover erhu, pipa, zhongruan, yangqin, zheng, dizi, xiao, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone and percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad). The course fee is $1,280 each.
​With a soothing sound, the handpan is often used in meditation and relaxation exercises. In the "Introduction to Handpan Playing", a new course of OMICs, participants will learn the correct posture and basic techniques of playing the handpan and reading numbered musical notations and musical staffs. The course welcomes adults and does not require any musical qualifications or performance experience.
​Another new course, "Keyboard Playing (Numbered Musical Notation)", will teach participants numbered musical notation reading skills, melody-playing techniques and simple chord applications. The course welcomes adults who have completed the "Introduction to Keyboard Playing (Foundation I)" course organised by the Music Office, or those who have acquired basic keyboard playing skills with both hands. The fees of the two new courses are $800 and $580 respectively.
​In addition, the Music Office will offer "iPad Music Making", a workshop for adults to enjoy music making by using the free music app GarageBand; and "ABCs of Musicianship", an online course designed for adult beginners. The fees of the courses are $800 and $385 respectively.
​All OMICs are conducted in Cantonese. The courses will be held at different venues across the territory, namely Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Sha Tin Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, North District Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library and the Music Office's music centres in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan. Participants of the online course "ABCs of Musicianship" are required to prepare their own electronic device equipped with a wireless or broadband data connection, a webcam and Zoom software in advance.
​Online applications are now available on the Music Office website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice). Course prospectuses and application forms are also available at various performance venues of the LCSD and music centres of the Music Office. The deadline for applications is July 25. Oversubscribed courses will be processed by ballot. For courses not fully taken up after the first round of application, places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis from August 21 onwards.
​For enquiries, please call 3842 7773, 2598 0801 or 2598 8335 or email to outreachmusic@lcsd.gov.hk.
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