Applications Open for Outreach Music Interest Courses from LCSD - Enroll Now!

Outreach Music Interest Courses open for applications

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. The courses will be held from September to February next year.

Introductory courses available include classical vocal singing, classical guitar, ukulele, little harp, keyboard and musicianship. Instrumental enrichment courses include erhu, zheng, yangqin, dizi, violin, cello, flute, clarinet and saxophone. There are also ensemble training for Chinese and Western music, music theory (Grades 1 and 2) and aural training. The course fees range from $320 to $1,350.

Other Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes will cover erhu, liuqin, pipa, zhongruan, zheng, yangqin, dizi, xiao, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad). The course fee is $1,440 each.

In a new course of OMICs, "Introduction to 'Pure Data' Music Programming", participants will learn to use "Pure Data", a free graphical programming software, for sound design and music creation. The course welcomes adults that have passed Grade 5 or above in music theory. Participants should bring their own laptop computer and other necessary equipment to class. The fee of this course is $760.

In addition, the "Keyboard Playing (Numbered Musical Notation)" course, which covers numbered musical notation reading, melody-playing techniques and simple chord applications, welcomes adults who have completed the "Introduction to Keyboard Playing (Foundation I)" course organised by the Music Office, or those who have acquired basic skills in playing the keyboard with both hands. The course fee is $650.

All OMICs are conducted in Cantonese. The courses will be held at different venues across the territory, namely Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, North District Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, Tai Po 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 the software Zoom 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 all music centres of the Music Office. The deadline for applications is July 18. 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 13 onwards.

For enquiries, please call 3842 7773, 2598 0801 or 2598 8335 or email to outreachmusic@lcsd.gov.hk.

Remarks by S for S at media session on Lai Chee-ying case

Following are theremarksmadebytheSecretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, at a mediasession on the Lai Chee-ying case thisafternoon (December 15):

Reporter: Firstly, regarding the verdict of this case, does this mean the cases surrounding Apple Daily have officially concluded and there will be no more prosecution in this regard? Secondly, regarding this case attracting heavy international media and political attention, are you worried that this verdict will draw further international sanctions towards Hong Kong, particularly from US President Donald Trump? Thank you.

Secretary for Security: First of all, I do not comment on individual suspects or organisations. For whatever criminal cases, including those relating to national security, if we have evidence, we will arrest (those suspects). If we have sufficient evidence, we will prosecute (suspects). No one is above the law. Regarding the international concerns of this case, I think a lot of foreign consulate staff attending the trial throughout are the witnesses of how open and fair this trial is.

I think this illustrates these kinds of activities, happening in any country, if someone uses the media to try to overturn a regime, I think this is not bearable by every government. I think this case illustrates how safe Hong Kong is and how we are able to interdict all the national security concerns and all the attempts to affect the national security. I think this is a good showcase to show that Hong Kong is safe and it is safe to do investments in Hong Kong.

Reporter: How do you make sure today's verdict does not affect freedom of the press in Hong Kong?

Secretary for Security: First of all, the verdict states very clearly that this is nothing to do with the freedom of press in this case. It is solely because of Lai Chee-ying's utilising of Apple Daily as a platform to advocate his hatred against the Government and his plot to try to overturn our CPG's (Central People's Government) regime.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)