Peter Gator, a 22-year-old music enthusiast and member of the Liberia Christian Fellowship in Caldwell, Liberia, is currently enrolled at Impact Academy. He signed up specifically for the piano and guitar classes offered in the ongoing Arts Bootcamp.
While Impact Academy provides a variety of other courses such as Fashion Design, Creative Writing, and general arts, Peter’s interest was solely in music. He expressed his enthusiasm as he navigated through the program.
Peter shared. “I learned about the coil structure and how to properly hold the black and white keys.
“Although I was somewhat familiar with them, his method of teaching clarified everything.
“He taught us the names of the keys, and we started practicing finger positioning, something I had never considered before.
“I used to hold the coils the usual way but now I understand the basics of the keyboard better.”
The program’s emphasis on digital learning significantly enhances students’ ability to absorb musical lessons efficiently. “Not everyone catches the lesson during the lectures, but through the digital screen, I learn faster than just from verbal explanations,” Peter noted.
The teachers incorporate online videos to support our learning, and we also do our own research using these materials at home to further improve. “Using computer-based learning really helps because when we see something, we understand and perform it better.”
Additionally, Peter is also developing foundational guitar skills. “When I first started, I had no knowledge of guitar. Unlike piano, now I can hold guitar chords correctly and even identify its parts,” he explained.
Being punctual became an important part of his discipline at Impact Academy. Initially, many students struggled with arriving on time, but after the CEO Emeka Emmanuel Obiamiwe of Impact Academy gave a stern warning about punctuality, everyone became more disciplined.
Peter remarked, “Our CEO Emeka Emmanuel Obiamiwe values time highly, and learning to be patient is essential for us musicians. Many people are impatient and want to learn too quickly, but Impact Academy teaches us to pace ourselves.”
Reflecting on his progress during the three-week Arts Bootcamp, Peter said, “I’m not claiming I will surpass others out there, but I believe I will be ahead. We Liberians have made strides in music.”
Beyond musical skills, the bootcamp has also helped Peter form valuable friendships.
