A report from Jamaica’s Observer.

A book on music education in the Caribbean and Latin America including a chapter focusing on Jamaica was unveiled at the Northern Caribbean University  (NCU) campus here, recently.

The book, Music Education in the Caribbean and Latin America: A Comprehensive Guide was formally launched by Dr Raymond Torres-Santos, Professor in the school of music at California State University described in a news release from NCU as “scholar, peer-reviewed author, administrator, composer, conductor, arranger and pianist”.

Torres-Santos told those at the launch ceremony that the book – with 20 contributors from the region — was the first of its kind to focus on islands and countries located in the Caribbean and Latin American region.

The chapter on music education in Jamaica, was written by Professor Marilyn Anderson, Special Adviser to the NCU President and former Interim President of the institution.

The book also includes chapters on Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago.

Torres-Santos’s visit to NCU was the beginning of a tour presenting the book, the news release said.

The professor explained that the literary work had taken a historical look at music education in the region and its cultural influences on how music is taught today.

“We have discovered…that teaching music forms better citizens in society,” Torres-Santos said.

The book launch formed part of NCU’s Research Week 2017 held under the theme Innovations through Research: Mission possible. During the university’s annual Research Week its academic sectors highlight their research and findings in various fields.