‘Musicians should dig deeper and upgrade’; CHECHAMBA

Wendham Chechamba, a Veteran Musician, who is known for opening up a music school back in the days defends that his school is still running though not as huge as before.

He says that the school had to move from Blantyre to Chilomoni where he kept on teaching music and this was as a result of failing to meet rental fees. He confirms that now he has been accommodated by the Music Club just close to Henry Henderson Institute (HHI).

Chechamba bemoans the fact that musicians nowadays lack interest to upgrade their skills unlike musicians in other countries who are able to play different instruments and play classical music.

He emphasizes that musicians should be able to read music in addition to playing different musical instruments, a quality that would bring uniqueness in music in Malawi.

It is evident, Chechamba is a musician that was once decorated with the Lifetime Achiever Award. He adds to say that recently, the number of students enrolling at his school has been dwindling unlike back then when the school would have at least have 20 students.

He boasts of different instruments that he has which musicians can put at use by coming to learn from him. The old timer, who has an album to his credit, urges that the industry is growing and musicians are doing their best but need to dig deeper and upgrade.

“At the moment you will see that musicians are using the same chords and yet they need to learn more of these chords and give people a variety and this is why they need to take time and learn. You will see that musicians are dishing out the same and this becomes monotonous to the audience,” he said.

Chechamba in 2014 held a concert in Blantyre to celebrate his musical journey but also showcase classical music.

“We had a wonderful time during this show and I celebrated it fully. All what I wanted to show was the journey I have travelled in music, it’s been a long journey which has seen me traveling places. A lot happened during this celebrating and I actually planned that I should be doing it annually but then in 2015 we could not manage due to funding,” he said.

During the event Chechamba performed with New Apostolic Church Orchestra where people sampled classical music.

“I was even happy that other veteran musicians also joined the platform to show what they used to do in those days and the young generation learned one or two things, so this surely has to continue and I therefore ask well wishers to assist so that we hold this event this year,” said Chechamba, who plays different instruments.

Chechamba started music when he was six years old and moved on with his talent in school until when he joined the Army Band where he learnt professional music.