A music school, based out of Dimapur today launched its second centre at Kacharigaon, Phevima, Dimapur. A one stop studio for all music educational needs, Mountain Music Academy (MMA) was previously known as the Furtados School of Music, and is run by sisters Bethel Tsuzu and Nituo Tsuzu. It started in January 2010, with just a handful of students and one teacher. During the formal launch of the MMA centre today, Bethel Tsuzu, announced that MMA has come a long way, with an increase of 300 students and 18 faculty members. Sharing some stories of the school, she informed that MMA offers a full schedule of music lessons in a variety of music disciplines such as the piano, violin, drums, and guitar. It also runs activities side by side to offer a practical approach to learning. There are also weekly performance labs and master classes where professionals come in for teachers and students to keep learning. Then, there are annual concerts, external activities and examinations. Bethel also highlighted a programme titled “The right note” which is a powerful learning program for the little ones between the ages of four to six. She also informed that from October 9th, a new program called “Le Connect” would be launched. This talk show and interview is designed to let the audience inside the minds of an artist and helps musicians interact and learn from professionals while getting the opportunity to watch them perform live. “All these and more are visions to instill our students a sense of responsibility for music, that music is more than pleasure, a tool to bring positive changes in the community, along with the opportunity to master a form of art,” she stated. In an inspiring speech, she also mentioned that among the many lives that have been inspiring MMA founders is their mother and also renowned musician Margaret Shishak, of the Margaret Shishak School of Music (MSSM) Patkai Christian College. “We owe it all to my dearest teacher Margaret Shishak who moulded us and inspired us to follow the path of music. MMA is founded today because of her, and the role she played in our lives,” she acknowledged. A lady whose heart and mission is to bring music into the lives of people, Margaret also briefly spoke at the music school launch. She underscored how there are not enough qualified music teachers in the State and India, and also expressed hope that more students take music seriously and contribute towards the progress and growth of music in Nagaland. She also applauded and gave more encouragement to the Tzuzu family to work towards musical service for the young people in Nagaland. The launch was attended by well-wishers, friends and students of Mountain Music Academy.