COVID-19: Don Says Music Can Boost Immunity

Professor Solomon Oziakpono Ikibe of department of performing arts, faculty of arts, University of Ilorin has stressed the need for everyone to regularly listen to music in order to boost their immunity especially in these days of COVID-19

The Don made the call at the 203rd Inaugural lecturer of the University with the theme: “So It’s Sol In Music As Man Uses Science In Communication”

Professor Solomon Oziakpono Ikibe noted that everybody should sing and make music every time.

“Laughter prolongs man’s life. Everybody should laugh often in order to live long. Laugh when things are good, laugh when things are not good. Laugh all the time and release tension.” He said.

He urged parents not to force their children against their personal interest as it could be counterproductive.

” Parents should allow their children to study what God has destined and endowed them with” he said.

The don urged Music students to try to acquire their personal musical instruments, not depending on what their music unit/departments have procured.

“Music students should be allowed to take some courses in the sciences, especially Physics, Mathematics and Biology.

Similarly, science students should be encouraged to take some courses in music especially Tonal Harmony, Harmonic and Musical acoustic”

“The fifth degree of the diatonic tonic sol-fa is Sol (Soh) and not Saw; Choristers, Music Directors and Music Educators should make frantic efforts to always enunciate it correctly as anything outside it is wrong-singing out of tune,” he said.

He stressed the need for music technology department, faculties/schools of music technology to be established in all polytechnics and universities of technology respectively across the nation.

” Training and re-training of music teachers/lectures in all institutions to acquaint them with current and affordable best global musical practices should be a regular feature”

He also urged Choristers and Music Directors to have regular re-training of their musical skills to acquire best global musical techniques

Prof. Ikibe stressed the need for music teachers to be employed in all institutions right from the primary schools to secondary and tertiary institutions instead of using unqualified and untutored music instructors to teach music courses

He also stressed the need for national Censors Board for Music Educators and Music Directors to be established to monitor the kind of music and musical knowledge being given out to Choristers, singers and the general public.

” Institutional Anthems should always have the names of composers written on them as it is done with hymns and where there are arrangers or performance director (s), their names should be written to deter usurpers from taking undue credit for what they did not do”

“A “National Choral and Orchestral Music Commission (NCOMC) should be established under the Ministry of culture and information to coordinate and control musical performance of various genres from the state and local government area of Nigeria.”

” Music should be used as a part of the elements in internal mechanism of festivals in resolving crises and conflicts among conflicting communities in Nigeria.” He said.

” A study of the brain functions of children should be taken into consideration when counseling them to make career choices.

“It will be easier for children with dominance in Right Brain Functions to do better in practical Musicianship and allow them as such instead of forcing them into the disciplines where they have to suffer because they must please their parents”

“Physiotherapist should engage the service of vocal instructors to assist in remedying some of the ailments among some people as stated herein”

“Adequate financial provisions should be made for Music Units and Music Departments in tertiary institutions across the nation.

“Music teachers need functional musical instruments to teach the music students the needed skills of musicological Musicianship for them to graduate and be independent and also be employers of labour as they put into practice what they learnt in music.”

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