Proper instrument maintenance is critical for every school ensemble, which is why Kane Music was thrilled to host a dedicated booth and workshop at the recent Sahabat Symphony event.

Kane Music (Kaneyoufixit) was honored to be part of a meaningful collaboration project called Sahabat Symphony. This initiative brought together four school wind orchestras: SSEMKL Wind Ensemble (Sekolah Seni Kuala Lumpur), Yu Hua Band (SMK Yu Hua Kajang), Malacca Wind Orchestra (Malacca High School), and Meresmaf Wind Orchestra (MRSM Felda).

The program began with a dedicated band camp and concluded with a beautiful concert that showcased the students’ hard work, teamwork, and musical growth. Throughout the event, Kane Music (Kaneyoufixit) proudly supported the participants by setting up a free repair stop and an interactive exhibition booth.

Day 1

The day started with a simple briefing and ice-breaking session, allowing students to get to know each other. This was followed by band warm-ups led by Mr. Hairun Alif, an active performer, instructor, and music educator from Sekolah Seni Kuala Lumpur. His clear, engaging methods helped students play with better technique, preparing them physically and musically for the days ahead.

Next came a session on Band Rehearsal Techniques led by two highly respected instructors, Mr. Ng Woon Leong and Mr. Hazrin Ishak. They focused on how to make rehearsals more productive, addressing a common problem where students often repeat sections aimlessly, wasting time and energy. Working on Wau Bulan and Future of Tomorrow, the students quickly gained a deeper understanding of the music and how to make rehearsals more productive. 

Day 2

The second day began bright and early with fitness exercises, including jogging, stretching and The Breathing Gym. It was a routine that helps students develop breath control for a stronger, more controlled sound on their instruments.

After breakfast, they continued with a session on Orchestra Balancing and Blending Techniques guided by Mr Chong Chee Wai, Band Director of Yu Hua Band. Students learned how to listen as an ensemble, improving their balance, tone, and overall musical cohesion. 

Meanwhile, Kane Music (Kaneyoufixit) opened our exhibition booth and repair station. Students, teachers, and parents explored a wide range of wind instrument accessories, including Vandoren and D’Addario reeds, saxophone and clarinet mouthpieces, brass mouthpieces, and Protec products such as pouches, leather guards, mutes, and maintenance items. All items were offered at special event discounts to make quality gear more accessible.

At the repair station, our technician Annie was kept busy throughout the day fixing stuck mouthpieces, valve issues, and woodwind key problems. Many schools face challenges in maintaining their instruments due to limited resources, so being able to assist directly was especially meaningful for us.

One of the highlights of the booth was our Free Spinning Wheel Giveaway! Students who followed our Instagram page (@kanemusicmy) and shared a story got to spin the wheel for prizes like powder paper, cork grease, metal polish, and flexible brushes. Beyond the fun, it gave us a chance to teach students how to use these tools for better instrument care.

In the afternoon, students went into sectionals led by professional musicians and clinicians such as Mustaqim Abdullah (UPSI), Hafeez Abdullah (National Symphony Orchestra), and Mr. Tan Juen Loon (Kuala Lumpur Orchestra). Their guidance on tone, technique, and musical interpretation helped shape the pieces for the final performance.

During the evening, we conducted our maintenance workshop in two sessions:

• SSeMKL & Malacca High School
• Yu Hua Band & MRESMAF Band

Each session covered the essentials of daily instrument care, the importance of cleanliness, what a properly maintained instrument should look like, and before and after examples of a complete service.

The students’ reactions were priceless. Many were intrigued and excited to learn how servicing works. Some even asked about handling stuck or sluggish valves, showing genuine curiosity and eagerness to take better care of their instruments.

The evening wrapped up with combined rehearsals as all four ensembles prepared for the big concert day.

Day 3

After breakfast, the students dove into final rehearsals and a full dry run before the evening performance. Kane Music (Kaneyoufixit) reopened our booth after Friday prayers, and we were pleasantly surprised by how many parents dropped by to ask about instrument care. They asked questions about products like cork grease and pad dryers, giving us a chance to educate both parents and teachers on how to care for musical instruments.

The concert itself was the perfect finale. The students performed with confidence, musicality, and heart. It was an inspiring culmination of days of hard work and collaborative effort.

Overall

Being part of Sahabat Symphony meant a great deal to us. Watching young musicians grow, learn, and perform together was incredibly uplifting. We were deeply inspired by the dedication of their mentors and the perseverance of the students, especially the Meresmaf Orchestra who arrived late after performing the night before at Angkasapuri for their “From Trolak to Prague” concert.

It was also heartwarming to see strong parental support, something that has become far more common and important today. Through conversations with teachers, parents, and students, we gained valuable insights into the challenges schools face in accessing repairs and quality accessories. These insights will help us continue improving our services.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this event possible. We are truly grateful to have been part of this inspiring journey and look forward to more collaborations just like this in the future.