IluMaster

Executive Summary

The above-named is a duly registered firm as a not-for-profit organisation in Canada.

It is an entertaining, recreational, and academic hub established to positively impact individual, family, and community lives through drumming, practical entertainment, and musical education. Its core vision is to become one of the world’s premier drumming and entertainment hubs in ten years (by 2034).

Background

Our 21st-century dynamic world is invariably enmeshed with a barrage of challenges that need robust and pragmatic solutions for a safer, saner, and healthier environment for all to dwell and connect. Interestingly, the art of music and drumming has been found to play catalytic roles in helping man address most of his challenges today. The significance of drumming or music education as a potential catalyst for enhancing students’ academic performance and motivation has come to the forefront of local, national and global conversations. Music education has long been regarded as a powerful tool for holistic student development.

Beyond nurturing artistic talents, it is believed to stimulate cognitive functions, foster creativity, and boost emotional intelligence. Music education is a powerful tool for stimulating cognitive abilities. It engages students in activities that require critical thinking, pattern recognition, and problem-solving. By learning to read musical notation, students enhance their literacy skills, and the intricate structure of music nurtures mathematical understanding.

Music can evoke a wide range of emotions. Through music education, students develop a heightened awareness of emotional expression, empathy, and creativity. This emotional intelligence not only enriches their personal lives but also positively influences their interactions with peers and teachers.

Music education has the unique ability to ignite and sustain academic motivation. Learning to play an instrument, beat the drum or sing can be a deeply personal and fulfilling experience. When students find their passion within music, they often transfer the same enthusiasm and dedication to their academic endeavours. Music education is not merely an extracurricular activity but a dynamic force that enhances cognitive development, emotional intelligence, and academic motivation.

According to William Two Feathers, a notable Native American spiritual leader, “The drum is one of the most ancient instruments, dating back tens of thousands of years. It has been used for festivals, celebrations, healings, and rituals in the most diverse cultural areas. The sound of the drum and its simple, strong rhythms allow humans to experience a connection with the earth and its natural flow. Drumming awakens a noticeable energy, a vitality in us, which lets us know intuitively that rhythm is good medicine.

The beating of the drum is an intimate dialogue that shifts us into another world, where spirit, bodies, soul, and nature can dance together as one. Drumming has been used for generations. Drumming is good medicine. It captures our innermost senses and provides us with the gift of rhythm and personal expression. Drumming connects our mind, body, and soul with the deeper rhythms of life. Rhythm and music allow us to share our intimate dialogue and speak with a common tongue. Drumming is a powerful experience and simply put, it is FUN! It simply reminds us of the experiences of our childhood and allows us to view the world in a new light, with growth opportunities” (William Two Feathers, 2004).

It is in respect of the foregoing painted picture that the management of Ilu Master is seeking the attention, approval and license of the federal government, provincial authorities and municipal leadership to teach, mould and mentor Canada’s today and future leaders the art of drumming by exposing and acquainting them with relevant drumming skills that make them excel academically, mentally, morally and psychologically.

Project Goal

The overarching goal of the project is to:

• Add value to learning and wellness through the drums in Canada’s schools and homes

Significance of the Project

There is no abnegating the fact that the importance of integrating drumming education into Canada’s education system at all levels cannot be underscored in the contemporary epoch. One significance of exposing students and pupils to drumming skills is to enhance their cognitive abilities, emotional intelligence, and social interactions. Second, drumming/music exposes students to different cultures and traditions and thus boosts their understanding of Canada’s multiculturalism. Lastly, drumming stimulates students’ enthusiasm and passion for educational pursuit, and hence it serves as a powerful tool for increasing Canada’s literacy rate or index.

Objectives

The project aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Teach students and individual adults the basic skills of drumming;

• Create a lively and aesthetic learning environment for students through drumming.

• Build and sustain students’ cognitive and emotional intelligence;

• Enhance students’ health and attention to detail; and

• Educate students of diverse cultural backgrounds on Canada’s multiculturalism.

Activities

The project has several activities to proactively drive and achieve its core objectives.

These activities include the following:

1. 8-Contact CClass—This service takes place twice a week for a month. It is expected to take place within the school premises or classroom where students are taught both theoretical and practical drumming skills, rhythms and typologies of drum.

2. 4-Contact Class – This is a drumming class that takes place once in a week of every month. It introduces students and target audience to the rudiments of drumming using theoretical and pragmatic approaches.

3. One Off Monthly Class – This is expected to run once in a month and it is planned for students with prior elementary insight and knowledge about drumming but who who need tutoring to rehearse and update their drumming skills and proficiency.

4. Home Intermediate Class—This is planned for individual adults with elementary drumming skills but need to sharpen their drumming skills and become masters in their own right. It is a home-based service.

5. Home Professional Class – This is a master class meant for professional drummers who seek up-to-date knowledge, skills and latest trends in the world of African, European, Canadian, and global drumming systems. It is a service to be delivered in the comfort zone of the would-be client(s).

Target Group

The project targets the following individuals and groups:

• Elementary School Pupils

• College Students

• Degree & Post Graduate Students

• Individual Drummers/Percussionists

• All Adults interested in acquiring Drumming skills for recreational or entertaining

Activity

Monitoring & Evaluation

The project team shall conduct periodic theoretical and practical tests and examinations for trained elementary, college, and higher institutions to ascertain their level of drumming skill and assimilation and application. At the end of every training course or session, certificates of participation and proficiency will also be awarded to all successful students.

Profile of Ilu Master CEO

The Chief Executive Officer of Ilu Master, Ayomide Akanni, is a vastly trained and experienced drummer/percussionist of global standard. Akanni is well-schooled up to the university level, both in Nigeria and Canada. He bagged a diploma in cybersecurity at the prestigious Toronto University, Canada. He started beating drums at a very tender age and has developed his mastery of the drum over the years. Today, he stands out as a professional drummer who knows his onions and can inspire such extraordinary talent in young ones, peers, and older adults.

He beats the drum with uncommon passion and panache and has the unique skill and talent to beat different cultural drums ranging from Nigerian and African to Canadian and other types of continental drums. More can be read about him at the Ilu Master official website www.ilumaster.com

Conclusion

Drumming has, no doubt, become a powerful activity that the world can no longer ignore in its pursuit for growth, progress and sustainable development. Like I started the proposal with Remo’s illuminating quote, I will love to end it with this wonderfully superb quote of his: “The rhythm of life is a symphony and expression of our soul. When we drum, our inner voice resounds. Our energy rises, vitality improves, and our emotions are exhilarated.

Group drumming opens the doors of communication and allows us to speak where words often do not pass. Music, rhythm, and dance enhance self-esteem, ensure a healthy workout, stimulate our minds, boost our creative potential, make us laugh, and connect us on many levels” (Remo, 2003).