Dr Christopher Keyes, BA coordinator, Department of Music and Fine Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University

If you are a music lover and want to pursue a musical career, you do not necessarily need the prodigious talent of a Mozart or Beethoven. But, according to one expert, you must possess intelligence, discipline, sensitivity and a basic aptitude for music.

"An average person might, with enough work, become a successful musician," says Dr Christopher Keyes, Bachelor's degree coordinator for the Department of Music and Fine Arts at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). "Of course, having a good teacher is essential."

He notes that, while many people have a profound interest in music, they do not dare to take it up as a profession, worrying that they will not be able to make a living. "However, this is a misconception," notes Dr Keyes. "Many people approach our department for enrolment after having completed BA studies in other disciplines which they found did not suit them."

Every year, graduates from the department achieve a 100 percent employment rate. A University's Student Affairs Office survey shows that, of the 31 and 28 graduates in 2001 and 2002, all who did not choose to pursue further studies were able to find full-time or part-time work to suit them.

Average income for fresh graduates is around HK$16,000 a month, almost double the average income of a business administration graduate.

Most graduates take up full-time jobs as music teachers in schools or work as music producers or executives. Those who turn to performing, composing and higher-level teaching usually further their training by studying for a Master's degree or joining a conservatory.

"To earn a living, most musicians find a balance between teaching and music-making. If you are [renowned cellist] Yo-Yo Ma, you mostly play, but you still do some teaching. Others will mostly teach," Dr Keyes explains.

Among the department's outstanding graduates are Elsa Lam, currently associate principal clarinet for the China Philharmonic Orchestra in Beijing and Jackson Leung, presently associate professor and director of orchestras at Wright State University in the US.

In Hong Kong, no matter how bad the economy is, there is always a huge demand for music teachers. "Parents know that learning to play any musical instrument develops their children's concentration and discipline," Dr Keyes notes.

Last year, therefore, HKBU launched a two-year Music Talent Development Programme for Form 5 graduates who want to enter the department without having to take the A-Level music examination. Applicants must, however, possess grade 5 or above in theory and grade 7 or above in performance as well as five HKCEE passes. They must also pass a written exam and audition administered by the department.

For the BA programme, in addition to meeting minimum HKBU entrance requirements, every applicant has to pass an audition on a major instrument or for voice, plus a written test. Successful candidates normally have a grade 5 or above in theory and grade 8 or above in a practical subject, awarded by the Royal Schools of Music.

Dr Keyes says that, every year, over 450 students vie for roughly 15 vacancies available to Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) applicants.

First-year students are required to take several core subjects but, in the second year, they start to specialise more and can choose to concentrate on one major area from performance, composition, music education or general . Besides music, students are required to take non-major subjects in English, Chinese, computer literacy, religion and philosophy.

As part of the largest full-time Bachelor's degree music programme in Hong Kong, HKBU music students also enjoy opportunities to perform overseas and the Hong Kong Baptist University Choir has given concerts in Italy, Switzerland and Austria.

Course information

An essential luxury Is studying music a luxury in Hong Kong? "The government might see it as a luxury but, apart from food, clothing and shelter, everything is a luxury. Have you ever heard of any community or society without music?" asks Dr Christopher Keyes, the Bachelor's degree coordinator at Hong Kong Baptist University's (HKBU) Department of Music and Fine Arts. He adds that he is aware there are not many opportunities to study music formally, apart from courses at private studios and the government-run Music Office. "Some religious schools, like St Mary's Canossian College and Diocesan Girls' School, have lessons for students but most secondary schools, unlike those in the UK and US, treat music only as an extra-curricular activity." However, Dr Keyes, a graduate of the famous Eastman School of Music in the US, says local people's interest in music is growing. He notes that, every year, many Hong Kong students take part in music exams offered by the Associated Board of the UK's Royal Schools of Music. Locally, the Music Office runs a full-scale instrumental training programme for young people to promote interest in music among the public. Several thousand trainees are enrolled annually in its Instrumental Music Training Scheme even though piano lessons are not offered. Children who are keen to play the piano have to attend private lessons. A piano tuition centre in Lam Tin caters for middle-income families but, even there, charges add up quickly when regular one-hour lessons, possible monthly rental fees for a piano at home and fees for examinations, required for promotion to a higher grade, are included. Dr Keyes notes the government has recently stopped funding a Master's degree music programme and that students will have to pay more for their studies. Tuition fees for HKBU's two-year postgraduate diploma course and one-year postgraduate certificate course, introduced last academic year, have risen considerably.

Taken from Career Times 2004/05/14