Campaign Story

What’s our goal?

Gjakova is known as a city with a cultural background and awareness about the importance of music and art. Despite this, there are only few accessible activities and places in our city regarding music-art education and non-formal education in general and even less for autistic children and minorities.

Considering that only a very limited number of children are accepted at the existing music school, a space such as MusicLab will be a pioneering and most fulfilling initiative that will give children and youth the opportunity to expand their music and art activities and discover their talents. It is proven that structured music lessons significantly enhance children’s cognitive abilities, to overcome inhibition, planning and verbal intelligence and consequently their academic achievement.

Furthermore, the common problems are: hyperactivity, autism, ethnic discrimination in children aged 5-12 and it’s growing each year. MusicLab will address these issues by its open, warm and cozy atmosphere but also by tailor made activities and for specific groups.

This space will be home to every child, youth, adults and seniors regardless of their ethnicity. Part of this project will be everyone who likes music-art and wants to learn or improve singing and pre-training for studies. Important about this space is that it will be also open for adults and seniors. For these ages we think of creating a choir where they will be engaged in various activities throughout the year.

MusicLab will offer individual and group courses in classical, jazz and modern music such as: solo, piano, saxophone, clarinets, solfeggio, guitar. There will also be an art/ painting class where the children will create art with music through the methods that will be used.

Our space will also have workshops where artists will be invited to share their experiences with everyone who will be part of this lab. We will do music recordings (songs/albums) as well as the organization of concerts/events. At MusicLab everybody, from children to seniors, can also familiarize with the digital and software side of music and learn to create sounds and electronic music.

Who are we?

Founders Team and Teachers at MusicLab

Edonjeta Hajdari – Graduated Soloist at the Academy of Arts, Tirana. Head of the “Lyra” Choir. Her appearances: The first Kosovo musical “Arjeta and Gëzimi” leading role. The awards “Lirika Italiane” second prize, at the “Jorgjije Truja” festival. Participated in Concerts and Master Classes at home and abroad such as: Kosovo, Albania, Switzerland, France and Germany.

Artil Qarkagjija – Finished Academy of Arts in Directing Scenography at the University of Pristina. He is involved in painting where he has participated in many collective exhibitions at home and abroad as well as two solo exhibitions. Also since 2001 he is a producer and DJ of electronic music. He is currently employed at Comodita Home as a Graphic Designer.

Other qualified artists with complementing capacities will join the founders’ team once MusicLab has started. The team will provide their experience to serve the children, young people and adults of Gjakova. There will be modern mentoring methods that will influence socialization, cognitive development and vocal training for children, youth, adults and seniors.

What do we need? 

MusicLab will be devided into two spaces. One part will serve for the studio to record songs and albums and the rest will be classes where individual and group courses for music and art will take place. For this space we need musical instruments, scorecards/literature, classroom furniture, basic materials that will be necessary for the painting classroom and a budget for conversion and refurbishment work needed for setting up the studio.

How will your support help?