Thailand Music Firm Finds Teaching Children Brings Rewards Other Than Money.

Byline: Santan Santivimolnat

Oct. 2--Few people get rich by teaching music but the job satisfaction can be immense. That's the case at Siam Music Yamaha Co, which provides music courses for children.

As Wichian Sukpumarin, managing director of Siam Music Yamaha Co, explains: "The business can make everybody happy although they can't get rich from it."

The company's origins date back to 1965, when the late Thavorn Phornprapha, the founder of Siam Motors, went to Japan to meet his old friend G. Kawakami, the president of the Yamaha Music Foundation and the chairman of Nippon Gakki, the world famous manufacturer of Yamaha musical instruments.

Mr Kawakami had successfully introduced a music course for Japanese children and suggested Mr Thavorn follow suit in Thailand.

With the goal of developing Thailand's musical talent to international level, Mr Thavorn established Siam Kolkarn Music School in 1966, the first school of its kind in Thailand, as part of Siam Motors Co.

Courses from the Yamaha Music Foundation were used to teach Thai children the basics of reading notes, the concept of rhythm and how to play instruments and perform in a group.