WORLD RECORD!
SJK(C) Kuo Kuang 2 in Skudai, Johor has broken the Guinness World Record for the Biggest Music Lesson, with 2,869 students playing the ukelele for 30 minutes on May 14.
FOR Teo Boong Sai, having SJK (C) Kuo Kuang 2 here inducted into the Guinness Book of World
Records is the best retirement gift he could ever wish for.
Teo, who is the school’s headmaster, is retiring next week, and witnessing his school’s record-breaking success will be a memory that he will cherish forever.
“I am proud of this achievement. It is a coincidence that I am retiring next week, but this is the best thing to have happened to me.”
The school on Tuesday broke the Guinness World Record for the most number of participants in a single music lesson with 2,869 pupils playing the ukulele for 30 minutes.
The feat eclipses the record set by the Lyrish Ocarina Federation (Japan) at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, on Nov 23, 2014. It had 2,489 participants.
The record attempt took place at the SJK (C) Kuo Kuang 2 hall at 12.38pm. The pupils played the ukulele to the tune of Baby Shark by Pink Fong.
During the lesson, the pupils were given instructions on the ukulele, including basic lessons on playing the instrument.
Teo said the attempt was organised by Institut Pendidikan Grownce, which began planning early this year.
The institute supplied the ukuleles while the school provided the venue and participants.
“A lot of hard work went into the attempt as we had to arrange the logistics since it involved pupils from the morning and evening sessions,” said Teo.
“We received support from various parties, including the teachers, parents and the parentteacher association, to make sure the attempt was successful.”
He said a challenge faced by the teachers was maintaining the pupils’ discipline during the attempt and ensuring that they concentrated on the lesson.
“Our intention was to boost the pupils’ confidence so that they learn to set goals and work hard for it.”
He said initially it aimed to have 2,600 participants, but in the end it gathered more than 2,800. However, during the record attempt, five students were disqualified.
Brian Sobel, a representative of the Guinness World Records headquarters in London, the United Kingdom, said the five were disqualified as some had to take a bathroom break while others did not give their full attention during the lesson.
“Every attempt to break a world record comes with a set of guidelines and rules that the participants need to follow and it is something that is stressed on.
“Even though some students were disqualified, 2,869 students successfully finished the lesson,” he said after the lesson at the main hall.
Present were Education Ministry’s sport and art education division deputy director Razuki A. Rahim.
He said the success proved that schools in Malaysia had the ability and students were talented in all aspects, including sports and music.
“This achievement in breaking a world record would hopefully be a catalyst for other schools to achieve success on the international stage.”