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Depok group offers violin classes to all
Rookies and pros welcome: Alliance Violin Community members practice on the terrace of Depok City Hall on a recent weekend
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Rookies and pros welcome: Alliance Violin Community members practice on the terrace of Depok City Hall on a recent weekend. The community welcomes people of different backgrounds to learn to play the violin. (JP/Aldrin Rocky Sampeliling) (JP/Aldrin Rocky Sampeliling)
Rookies and pros welcome: Alliance Violin Community members practice on the terrace of Depok City Hall on a recent weekend. The community welcomes people of different backgrounds to learn to play the violin. (JP/Aldrin Rocky Sampeliling)
Heavy rain on a recent weekend did not stop dozens of members of the Alliance Violin Community (AVC) from drawing their bows on the strings of their violins on the terrace of Depok's City Hall.
It was 7 p.m. and the members were still chatting with each other although their scheduled practice was over. The group borrows the venue for practice every Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
AVC is a community that feels like a family to some of its members, in which people learn to play the violin from each other. Founded by street musician Wando Pirastro in 2010, the group welcomes anyone who wants to learn to play the string instrument, even those who have never touched a musical instrument in their life.
Formerly called Autodidact Violin Community, Wando wanted to make violin-playing accessible to all people regardless of their economic background. He started by teaching violin to street youths at Depok Baru Station.
'The sound of the violin emerging from the station's second floor attracted more people. At first they would ask me about the community, and then came to join for the next session,' said Dail Alwi, 20, the community's vice chairman.
Dail, a University of Indonesia (UI) student who also works at a private company, initially had no violin skills or experience. What he did have was a strong desire to learn, and now he even performs in public, together with his friends.
'Autodidactism wouldn't be enough to define our learning practice, that's why we changed our name. It's more like we are autodidacts, but as a community, a family,' he said, referring to the 'A' in AVC, which changed from 'Autodidact' to 'Alliance'.
In the community, the more skilled members teach the rookies. They share their knowledge and skills, and they thrive together.
'Currently we have around 190 members from Greater Jakarta,' Dail said. AVC charges Rp 200,000 (US$14.81) for enrollment and Rp 100,000 in monthly fees.
But AVC also welcomed those who cannot pay to learn the violin, Dail said.
He said previously members would come and go, so they decided to charge fees to improve the structure of the organization. 'The money will be used for the community,' Dail said.
The learning curriculum was developed by Wando, the current chairman, and his colleagues. 'We are using Suzuki's violin curriculum,' Dail said.
In the learning system, the violinists will be divided in two groups. Those aged above 15 years will play on Saturdays, the rest, children and teenagers, on Sundays. The groups are further divided into sub-groups based on their skill level. The skilled members will have their own sessions to refine their playing.
The members of the group are diverse not only in age, which ranges from 5 to 60 years, but also in term of their backgrounds.
Member Wahyu Prihanto, 35, is a primary school teacher, while Dedi Pratama, 25, works for a travel agency.
'Some of our members teach violin at established music institutions. Also, there was once a South Korean, an exchange student at UI,' Dail said.
Dedi said violin was the first musical instrument he has ever played. 'Same as Dail, I had no ability in playing musical instruments. My friend recommended I come here, and here I am; now I can play the violin,' he said. It took him one month to master the basic 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' after he joined the group 10 months ago.
Since its establishment, the community has moved from the train station to UI Library's circular stage and then to City Hall.
Suparjono, secretary of Depok's Youth, Sport, Tourism and Culture Agency, said he supported the community. 'The AVC has been invited to perform at our programs and activities several times,' he said.
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The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post
