9 August 2019
“Cranes Return” is a project initiated by AGBU HAIK group in Germany for the development of innovative music education in Armenia. Through music master classes, book presentations and workshops, the project’s goal is to increase the motivation and working efficiency of students of the regional music schools and colleges in the Republic of Armenia as well as to use music to bring joy and solace to disadvantaged groups in Armenian society.
AGBU Goriz 2019 participant Shushan Ghazaryan is a board member of AGBU-HAIK. Together with Zhora Sargsyan and Nora Shekyan, they are the founders/authors of the project “Cranes Return”. As its name indicates, the project intends to encourage the contribution of Diaspora Armenians to the homeland.
Visiting Music Schools in Armenia
The first return to Armenia took place this summer with the participation of German-Armenian music students – clarinetist Ruben Mirzoyan, violinist Nora Shekyan and guitarist Shushan Ghazaryan. The group visited regional music schools (in Armavir, Vanadzor, Gyumri, Gavar) where they introduced updated and renovated teaching methods allowing students to gain a higher level of motivation, a better understanding of musical styles and to develop their musical technique. Thomas Offermann’s book Modern Guitar Technique and Guitarlift accessories were donated to the Armavir College of Art as well as to the Art Schools of Gyumri and Vanadzor. Both promote the sound and effective practice of guitarists.
Providing access to music to the less advantaged people of the Armenian society is also at the core of Cranes Return‘s mission. The founders of the project like to remind us of the words of well-known violinist Yehudi Menuhin about the virtue of music: ”music is a therapy, music is a solace, music brings joy”. Through the organization of concerts, the project wishes to allow people living in nursing houses, orphanages and hospitals to experience these three aspects of music.
Concerts in orphanages, nursing homes and hospitals
The concerts held this summer in orphanages were designed in an interactive form. Children got to test the instruments and participated in the concerts with songs and dances. “Both in nursing houses and in the palliative and oncological sections of hospitals, people are isolated from society and feel lonely”, says Shushan Ghazaryan, adding that “music can be a source of happiness and joy for those living in such conditions”. Through the sound of popular musical pieces familiar to all, Shushan notes that “music can also help reactivate memory for patients suffering from amnesia”.
In conclusion of their visit to Armenia, the participants of “Cranes Return” performed at the Concert Hall of AGBU Armenia in Yerevan.
Enriched from the positive summer experience, “Cranes Return” is looking to pursue its development in the future, expecting to bring more musicians from Diaspora to the homeland to expand its impact, with the same aim of sharing within Armenia the musical knowledge acquired abroad.
For more information on the project or if you wish to take part, please write to: cranesreturn@gmail.com
