Training grants & allowance for music professionals

SINGAPORE: Music professionals, freelancers and those who are new to the music industry can get training grants and allowance, as part of efforts to create a more vibrant music sector.

These have been made possible by a partnership between the Media Development Authority (MDA) and the Workforce Development Agency (WDA).

They’re working with two established music companies — Ocean Butterflies Music and Funkie Monkies Pop Music School — to offer training programmes in lyrics and melody writing, as well as music arrangement.

This is the first partnership among the MDA, WDA and music sector.

Music professionals, media freelancers and newbies will receive MDA grants of up to 90 per cent of the course fee under MDA’s Talent Assistance Grant Scheme.

Media freelancers can get an additional training allowance of S$7.50 per training hour.

On top of training grants, newbies will enjoy training allowances of up to S$1,000 per month for three months from WDA.

Up to 80 individuals are expected to benefit in the first year.

The initiative comes on the back of a series of efforts by MDA to help local music professionals market and develop themselves.

— CNA/ck