Hong Kong school bands nurture future leaders with life lessons onstage

As pop superstars Bruno Mars and Katy Perry will no doubt show during their springtime concerts in Hong Kong, one thing counts above all others when you’re up on stage. That’s to have a great time and make sure the audience does too.

Achieving that, of course, is the result of thousands of hours of practice, polishing the songs, harmonies, instrumental solos and dance routines to get everything just right, and down to the finest detail.   

But even with all that, the spark that ignites the show is something else. It’s the performers’ ability to seize the moment and create the mood, letting the music communicate their sense of enjoyment and ensuring everyone goes home with a spring in their step, humming 24K Magic, Firework or whatever else has made the occasion that bit special.  

So, for aspiring musicians in Hong Kong, with dreams of making the big time or simply starring in their school’s Christmas concert, the first essential should be to have fun. And fortunately, that’s also seen as a priority by teachers such as Scott Linder, who started the rock band club at the Jockey Club Ti-I College. He knows what it takes to ignite the light and let it shine, to own the night like the Fourth of July.   

“I know the rush, the joy, the feeling of being in a band and performing, and wanted to provide an opportunity for students to experience that too,” says Linder, the school’s NET (native English teacher). “I saw there was an interest, and by formalising the effort and stepping in as a mentor, I’ve been able to help students develop their musical abilities. They learn to be part of a band and to perform live before audiences at school and outside. It is also a great way for them to get exposure to international culture, develop fluency in English, and have a whole lot of fun.”

Over the years,  Linder has mentored numerous bands and individuals, with some continuing to play and perform after graduation. He also helped to start the “Rock On” event, where three to four bands from other secondary schools come together for an evening of full-on performances and friendly competition. Typically, the atmosphere can be described as loud and boisterous, but that makes it a good test for any group looking to move from the rehearsal room to a live setting.