CFK Violin Program
CFK Places Juilliard Teacher at C.E.S. 73
Bringing Classical Music Back To The Bronx
The 1999 Change For Kids Collaborative Documentary brought to our attention that one of our schools, C.E.S. 73 in the Bronx, lost their music program due to lack of funding. A music teacher came and went, leaving the school's 25 violins untouched, and many more students eager to be taught. After bringing this issue to light, we had to find a way to bring music back to C.E.S. 73... and to do it right. CFK Chairman, Ted Madara, contacted Derek Mithaug, a department head at Juilliard who recommended several accomplished violinists in the program who might be strong teaching candidates. We found a perfect match with Majid Khaliq - an outstanding Juilliard-trained violinist with a great teaching philosophy. Our next step was to acquire the funding to implement a proper violin program. Ricardo Pascoe and Arielle Tepper, who were both on the CFK Host Committee, stepped up to sponsor this program for a one-year pilot, with the hopes of continuing indefinitely if it is successful. We are now in our seventh year, which culminated in a remarkable performance at the school's end of year concert in June 2007. Majid is currently gearing up for the upcoming school year, after a successful summer school program, which included a music appreciation component.
About Majid & His Teaching Philosophy
Born in New York, Majid Khaliq found music his first love at a very young age. His very first musical experience was with his mother's vocal teaching, after which he found himself in love with the violin. Majid started violin lessons at the age of five with Rachel Manevich. His progress was rapid and Majid was placed in a performance ensemble led by Ms. Manevich at the Harlem School of the Arts. For years Majid played with the ensemble, gaining great experience performing at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, City Hall, Steinway Hall, and St. Petersburg Hall in Russia. Majid has also been on such shows as Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America, and Channel Seven News. Mr. Khaliq has also played for prominent people while with the Harlem School of the Arts String Ensemble such as President Bill Clinton, Senator elect Hillary Rodham-Clinton, Mayor Koch, Mayor Dinkins, Isaac Stern, Leonten Price, Martena Arroyo, Max Roach and Andre Watts.
Majid's Teaching Philosophy
The violin is said to be the closest to the soprano voice in music. It allows one to sing with all the grandeur of a Farinelli, with none of the breathing issue. The violin to me is an instrument of passion. However, passion for the violin does not just grow without a root. A teacher is the evoker of passion. One becomes interested in passion only when a teacher rightfully displays what there is to be passionate about. So, with every youngster to touch the violin, one's focus should only be to honor and foster the passion within that child. One should also focus on bringing the light of understanding to the violinist. Another focus is to teach a child not just the technique of playing the violin, but also to equally stress the theory of music. Thus, giving children the power and passion to develop musically and mentally. Allow the child to exercise his or her power over the music they make by giving them the tools to control that power. This will allow them to not just conquer their violin problems, but it will also allow them to thrive in life. Every person has the same ability. However, only a good teacher can realize this and also, that anything is possible in people and more than anything is possible in children.