Brand Oman Management Unit organizes 1st Muscat Youth Summit

The three-day program is sponsored by The Ministry of Education, UNESCO, Shababiah, Shell, Khimji Ramdas, Al Maha Petroleum, Qalhat LNG and Omran.

"I think the answer is 'no' in a superficial sense," says Alya Al Hosni of the Brand Oman Management Unit (BOMU) and Summit Project Manager. She goes on to explain: "A rich environment makes a difference to how young people develop socially, emotionally and intellectually. It comes back to the old cliché of 'use it or lose it'. The more education you have, the more the interconnections in the brain. And as Hodges' research clearly suggests music changes the brain."

It's an observation that Paris-based Zeid Hamdan and one of the Summit's music workshop presenters has been making for years:

"By introducing young people to music, so many areas of the brain benefit at the same time, like the mathematical and language centres. Music makes you smarter because it helps you understand yourself as a human being and your relationship with the world."

According to the Omani Centre for Traditional Music there are over 130 different forms of traditional Omani songs and dances. "Music is an integral part of the Sultanate's social, economic and geographical history, it's part of who we are and how we express ourselves as a nation," remarks Al Hosni.

The objective of the Summit's music workshops are to create a fun, spontaneous space where participants can express themselves, experience and experiment with traditional, classical and contemporary music.

"The keywords are fun and spontaneity because we believe that these elements underpin creativity, co-operation and self-expression. Learning about and experimenting with music is something many of the Summit participants won't have done in the past, it'll be a new and exciting learning experience," smiles Al Hosni.

"The workshops are unique in that they'll offer Summit participants a great opportunity to discover their creative potential. Unlocking creativity is the key to young people excelling in other areas of the curriculum and increasing their motivation and self confidence," adds Yasser Ameer, Marketing Manager, Shababiah and the Summit's Lead Partner.

But what are the wider economic and social benefits of music and the arts to Omani society? Data from the US indicates that non-profit arts institutions and organizations generate an estimated $37bn in the American economy annually.

"From a local perspective, music and the arts create jobs, boost tourism and spur growth in related businesses, for instance in hotels, restaurants, advertising, publishing and design. They improve the overall quality of life for our cities and towns," says BOMU's Lamya Al Habsi.

Success in education and in society depends on an array of abilities suggests Al Hosni but perhaps the basic reason that every child must have an education in music is that music is a part of the fabric of life. The Summit's Project Manager concludes: "Cultures use music to carry forward their ideas and identity. Indeed, given all the research that has been carried out it's more than evident that music and the arts play a fundamental role in developing young people, especially in today's knowledge economy."