​The Outreach Music Interest Courses (OMIC) 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, which will be held from March to August.
 
     ​The OMIC will launch a new workshop “Introduction to AI Music Creation”. Participants will learn how to use artificial intelligence music creation tools such as AIVA and Tone Transfer, and related music copyright concepts. The course, at a fee of $360, welcomes adults and does not require any musical qualifications or performance experience.
 
     ​In addition, the Music Office will offer introductory courses on little harp, keyboard, classical guitar and ukulele; instrumental enrichment courses of erhu, yangqin, zheng, violin and cello; ensemble training of Chinese and Western music; music theory (Grades 1 and 2); aural training; and the online course “ABCs of Musicianship”, which is designed for adult beginners. The course fees range from $260 to $1,070.
 
     ​Other Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes will cover erhu, pipa, zhongruan, yangqin, zheng, dizi, xiao, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone and percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad). The course fee is $1,140 each.
 
     ​All OMIC are conducted in Cantonese. The courses will be held at different venues across the territory, namely Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Sha Tin Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, North District Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing 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 Zoom software 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 music centres of the Music Office. The deadline for applications is January 30. 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 February 28 onwards.
 
     ​For enquiries, please call 3842 7773, 2598 0801 or 2598 8335 or email to outreachmusic@lcsd.gov.hk.

     ​The Instrumental Music Training Scheme (IMTS), organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, is now recruiting intermediate year-one and advanced year-one trainees for 2023-24. The deadline for applications is May 16.
 
     The IMTS provides training in a wide variety of string, wind and Chinese musical instruments including violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, French horn, trombone, percussion, sheng, suona, dizi, liuqin, zhongruan, sanxian and yangqin. Courses on musicianship and music theory are also included.
 
     One-hour group lessons, conducted in Cantonese, will be held once a week at the Music Office’s five music centres in Wan Chai, Kwun Tong, Mong Kok, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan. Annual tuition fees of $3,597 for intermediate level and $4,587 for advanced level are payable in four instalments.
 
     Interested persons who have attained the required music qualifications can visit the Music Office website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/training/instrumentalmusictrainingscheme.html) for more details and application submission. Course pamphlets and application forms are now available at all Music Office music centres. Qualified applicants will be invited for an audition. The audition dates for advanced year-one (excluding harp) and intermediate year-one courses are June 17 and 18 respectively. Harp audition for advanced year-one course will be held on June 25. Successful applicants will be notified in early August and the training will commence in early September.
 
     For enquiries, please call the Music Office’s music centres at 2802 0657 (Wan Chai), 2796 2893 (Kwun Tong), 2399 2200 (Mong Kok), 2158 6462 (Sha Tin) and 2417 6429 (Tsuen Wan).

     The 2022/23 School Care Subsidy Scheme is now inviting applications from schools. The deadline for applications is September 30.

     Organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the scheme aims to encourage music groups from kindergartens and primary, secondary and special schools as well as tertiary institutions to care for the community. It is hoped that students will extend their good wishes to special school students, the elderly, hospital patients and the beneficiaries of registered social welfare organisations through on-site or online free music performances, thereby enhancing social integration and harmony. Through the activities, students can gain experience from performances through serving the community and develop stronger team spirit as well as better organisational skills.

     Each performance can receive a maximum subsidy of $2,000 to cover costs including transportation, allowances for professionals and other miscellaneous items.

     Successful applicants must complete their performances on or before March 31 next year. Outstanding teams will be invited to perform and share their experiences at the Gala Concert to be held in April or May next year. All participating teams will be awarded certificates of commendation during the concert.

     Applications will be evaluated according to the feasibility, ingenuity and interactive elements of the proposed programmes, as well as the music groups’ prior experience in organising and performing at community events. Application forms can now be downloaded from the Music Office’s website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice). Completed forms must be emailed to the Music Office (cnc@lcsd.gov.hk).

     More than 360 school music groups have participated in the School Care Subsidy Scheme since its launch in 2009. The scheme is sponsored by the Sino Group. For enquiries, please call 2598 8335 or 3842 7775.