Applications open for Talent Development Programme

Bridges for Music(BFM) – our awesome music partner – is currently accepting applications for its second 2024 intake of its Talent Development Programme atBridges Academy, which will run from 12 July until 29 November. Applications close on 3 May, so if you’re an early-career musician (aged 18 to 35), whether a music producer, DJ, vocalist or instrumentalist, who’s passionate about social change and wanting to grow your personal and professional skills, read on.

Link to this headingAbout BFM and Bridges Academy

BFM is a non-profit organisation leveraging music and education to empower youth in underserved communities. The focus is a comprehensive model that integrates music with entrepreneurial skills, mindfulness and work readiness, offering educational resources, safe spaces, emotional support and professional networks. The goal is to equip young talents to enter the world of work and foster innovative thinking.

The Bridges Academy is a creative learning space in Langa created by BFM. It offers young people an inspiring and safe environment with access to world-class technology, mentorship and education designed to help them thrive in the world, equipping them with the necessary technical skill and mindset to obtain employment or become a successful entrepreneur.

Link to this headingAbout the Talent Development Programme

The Talent Development Programme (TDP) provides early-career musicians with a springboard to nurture their musical talent while also equipping them with a set of tools and skills designed to help them move into the next phase of their lives with greater direction, purpose and motivation.

The goal of the TDP is more music, better humans, brighter futures and more resilient communities.

The TDP is for early-career musicians (including music producers, DJs, vocalists and instrumentalists) who want to learn:

• How to use music production software (Ableton and FL Studio)
• How to get their music out into the world in a way that protects their best interests and monetises it
• About the various roles in the music industry
• How to set up music equipment for live events/recording sessions
• How to DJ
• How to throw an event
• How to be a leader and force for positive change in their community
• How to meditate and support one’s well-being, especially mental health
• How to grow one’s career inside and outside of the music industry
• The basics of entrepreneurship (and how to create and pitch a business plan)
• The fundamental workplace requirements, including computer skills, professionalism, marketing and branding

Link to this headingProgramme Structure

The TDP is a 20-week in-person course that includes over 700 hours of instruction from music and creative industry leaders. Tuition is free to students who are accepted into the programme, who enjoy input and collaboration with a dedicated team of instructors on subjects ranging from music to applied digital skills, mindfulness, career growth, entrepreneurship and event management. Students also become part of a local and global network of mentors and employers, including everyone from company executives to local community role models.

Currently, Bridges Academy serves over 150 students per year across its courses and has already created over 200 work opportunities.

Rosemary Blake, Programme Director at Bridges Academy at Bridges Academy explains that applicants who are accepted on the TDP will join a community of 24 other like-minded creatives. Together, they will journey together over five months through a full-time, deeply immersive experience.

Each programme follows the same core structure, running Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm with a 50% focus on music-related knowledge and skills and a 50% focus on emotional intelligence/life skills, computer skills, strategic career planning, and entrepreneurship, she says.Each cohort is unique and you will be learning from and teaching your peers as much as your instructors.

Rosemary encourages interested musicians to apply, particularly young women, whom he says may need encouragement to do so.

Link to this headingWhat alumni say

Tumelo Mvana (akaKenny, the Saviour) was part of the 2023 (term one intake) Bridges Academy Talent Development Programme and is now studying music at Nelson Mandela University. He says that he was previously not confident in his keyboard-playing abilities, but since graduating from the TDP has grown in skill and confidence. He was able to submit a video of himself performing on the piano to the university as part of his application and was selected as one of 60 students (of 4000) for the degree.

There are certain other aspects that I learned, like mindfulness, that have helped me to keep grounded in this next stage, he says.Mindfulness and practicing meditation are habits that I left Bridges Academy with. Once I acquire my degree, I want to take my studies further and eventually get a doctorate. I want to be a music professional, so that I’m able to teach kids music and start my own music programme.

Tumelo says he would definitely recommend the TDP to anybody who wants to start a career in music, especially those who have no prior foundation in music.The people at Bridges Academy are very patient, very loving and very motivational, he says.Once you enter the school, you become part of the family. It’s a very welcoming environment.

Vezokuhle Mntungwa (aka Vezi) was born and bred in kwaLanga, with a Zulu mother and Xhosa father. Although he was initially more interested in sport than creativity, an ACL injury put his cricket ambitions on hold and he began to channel his downtime into exploring various artistic endeavors, from creating art collections to mixtapes and even a clothing line.Balancing my passion for sports with my newfound love for the arts, I eventually established iNtwana Yase Kasi Recordings, an NPO aimed at youth development through multimedia art, he says.Bridges for Music Academy became instrumental in my career journey. Through the programme, I learned invaluable skills from mentors like Athie uMgido, Tabita, Prashana Rampersad, and DJ Fosta. They helped shape my understanding of business, digital tools, and personal growth, which were pivotal in establishing my company and navigating the complexities of the creative industry. The guidance I received from mentors like Shaun Duwet, Rose, Fundi, and Nobantu empowered me to expand my horizons. From securing venues for my tours to registering my company, their mentorship enabled me to turn my aspirations into tangible achievements. Bridges for Music Academy also facilitated connections and sponsorships that fueled the growth of my multimedia ventures.

Additionally, Vezi will be embarking on his annual ‘A Rand And A Dream Tour ’ soon, along with the launch of F.I.R.S.T.S this upcoming spring.

Next on Vezi’s agenda is to consolidate his business’s annual multimedia events and realize his vision of establishing a multi-purpose studio.This studio will serve as a hub for creativity, providing artists with the space and resources needed to flourish without constraints, he says.I would recommend the TDP to other young people without a doubt. Bridges for Music Academy offers more than just musical education—it instills hope, fosters opportunity, and catalyses personal growth. The programme’s holistic approach not only equips students with technical skills but also encourages introspection and forward thinking. I wholeheartedly endorse it to any aspiring creative looking to unlock their potential.

Keep up-to-date with Vezi and his ventures on the iNtwana Yase Kasi Recordings’ social media pages (Instagram and Facebook).Personally, you can find my music on YouTube and soon on streaming platforms under the handle@Vezi_za, he concludes.

Link to this headingGetting involved

For those who are interested in supporting or getting involved with Bridges Academy outside of the TDP, keep an eye on theEvents pageand theBridges AcademyandBFMInstagram pages.