Kasper Hansen: Strumming Heartstrings

Let’s Play is hitting all the right chords to encourage youth in the Philippines to strum some strings instead of thumbing their videogame’s console. Its motivation: Filipinos have an inherent flair for music, generally speaking. 

All over Asia you will find many music bands and it is almost certain to find at least one Filipino, singing or dancing, without a lack of neither enthusiasm nor talent.

Students in Malabon City

Students at Quiot Elementary School Cebu, 2019

Married to a half-Filipina, Kasper Hansen has visited the Philippines numerous times that it would be hard not to notice the Filipinos’ passion for music. 

The Philippines was an obvious choice for Kasper when he envisioned empowering the youth through music. 

Kasper Hansen

“It is clear that there is raw talent. There are so many children but with no resources,” Kasper explains why he chose the Philippines to set the roots of his personal advocacy. 

It all started six years ago after meeting a local leader in Malabon City (north of Manila).  

A few months down the road he was on his first of many journeys meeting with the teachers and the principal of a local high school. Armed with eight guitars (which he purchased on his own) and his old laptop, that first meeting gave birth to Let’s Play.

“Once you learn how to play, music is free,” relates Kasper, a Danish bank executive based in Singapore. 

The joy of playing an instrument at a young age is something many take for granted. Learning to play an instrument is a challenge for those who cannot afford it. Kasper simply wants to share that joy with any child who is willing to play.

A student from Malabon National High School

A student from Santiago Syjuco High School, Malabon

Let’s Play is a pretty simple set up. Kasper gets sponsors to purchase ukuleles, he sources and buys these instruments in the Philippines as a way of supporting small musical craftsmen, picks them up and delivers them to the schools where he has a chance to meet the teachers and students.  

The teachers don’t necessarily need to know how to play the string instruments themselves. Kasper guides them through YouTube tutorial videos. He found ‘Justin Guitar’ to be incredibly useful in learning how to play so much so that the founder Justin Sandercoe has endorsed Kasper’s Let’s Play initiative. 

“It goes beyond just playing. Music creates a community, a bond that builds confidence in children. Think of it as a creative group, in this case a music group willing to help and support each other,” he thoughtfully commented.  

Kasper and son visiting a school, 2017

Kasper has seen the influential impact of music not only on the students but also on the parents.  

“Whereas before the children would play videogames, now the parents bond with the kids through music,” he happily observes.

Teachers are also at an advantage.  “When they have the dedication, and if they also have the talent, and now the tools, everything is possible. It’s the right outcome you would hope for.”

Ninoy Aquino Elementary School, Malabon,2018

Today Let’s Play’s program is being utilised in over 36 schools around The Philippines, predominantly in Malabon and Cebu (south of the Philippines). He noted that having a strong relationship with the country’s Department of Education does help. More importantly, it is because the dedicated teachers with a good reputation are tracked.

All training takes place in school, and the instruments are kept in school. During the Covid-19 pandemic teachers were tutoring online, but they would also visit homes whenever safety measures allowed.  

Teachers have found ways online to help.  On Kasper’s last trip to Cebu in June 2019 he brought 150 instruments to five or six schools.  

The first batch of students in Malabon National High School, 2017

Christmas concert in Malabon, 2018

Having given more than 670 instruments to over 1,000 students, Kasper said his purpose is set on quality rather than quantity. He wants to reach the right schools, wherever Let’s Play can become meaningful in someone’s life. 

The Hansens

Kasper is positively strumming heartstrings together with a harmonious musical ensemble. Teamwork, bonding, and teachers’ motivation – these are the ingredients to somehow make someone’s life significantly better. It’s not just the number but also the chance to achieve something that carries great weight. That’s all he asks. 

“All kids are the same. They are just like our children, eager to learn and play,” says the father of two. 

Karmela | ws

http://letsplay.asia/