Me2moro Magazine

a music teacher called Mr. John; this teacher
was known to be very strict; we even believed
he could whip the whole school three times
and wouldn’t get tired. We all dreaded being
in his class, when I was in JHS 3, I was sent to
his class, I managed to move to the next class
but he was moved to that class too. (Laughs).
However, in the long run it became more like
a blessing in disguise, because he was also the
music teacher, so he kept forcing the music
on us, knowing the basic sulfa s in music, and
terms like crescendo and other musical terms
like Tempo, rhythm, etc. Sir John was very
strict and that act of discipline really helped
me and it actually shaped my life. I had a
better life as a result of adhering to most of Mr.
John’s advice. This meant a lot to me because
everybody knew I could sing; because I was
always making noise. They regarded it as noise;
they didn’t know it was something I could use
in the future”. Kojo, the Maestro goes ahead
the lament on how his talent could have gone
waste if he heeded to the directions of his
parents, especially, his father. He feels that
His father simply failed to discover his talent
or even identify that his noise was worthy.
Parents/guardians may want something else
for the child even though that may not be the
child’s wholesome desire or field. He stated “we
all want to take our kids to school and we want
the best for our kids but sometimes we lose out
on the talent of the child.
The Challenge
“I am willing to share with you my utmost
challenge. I was very bright in school and even
in form 3, I sat the common entrance exam
and passed with distinction. I even had a
scholarship in Ebenezer School; I had a father
who was from a tribe that didn’t really regard
education. In form 4, I sat common exam
again and passed with distinction. I went to St.
Paul’s and had to do manual labor at a certain
point in time. I continued to pursue music,
and along the way I started getting some kind
of education on my own, those where the
challenges, I could overcome them, but some
of my siblings couldn’t do it.
I believe life itself is a form of education
and education has no end. If I had pursued
education further, it could have enhanced
some of the things I’m doing now”. This reveals
how important it is to pursue education to at
least a certain level where you can boast and
enhance your circle in which you operate and
have greater influence.
The Regrets
The music part is what I wish I had taken more
seriously in middle school. Discipline in music
is what people take for granted. There are notes
you have to hit in a certain way, there are notes
you have to hit with the microphone far away
from you, those discipline when you learn
them lives with you forever.
Music Today
Music is sweet, Music is good and finally, Music
is the food for the soul! This is what seems to
be coming out of the Maestros mouth every
second, however, he has a concern. Kojo says
“the introduction of technology is keeping us
apart; we are not making music in harmony/
groups anymore, it doesn’t feel like it used to
feel. Music has to be made in groups, orchestra,
symphonies, now gadgets are been brought in,
if you sing bass, there are instruments that
can play it, so that’s the challenge, separation,
divide.”
To do good music, one needs to stay healthy,
have a sound and positive mind to write and
compose, arrange and orchestrate. This serves
as caution for up-coming musicians who see
the Music man as their Mentor in the music
industry in Ghana, Africa and the world at
large.
59