Akapo Emmanuel

Akapo Emmanuel (born 10 November 1981) is a Nigerian vocal coach and music educator. He is the founder of Tenstrings Music Institute- a music college with several study centers across Nigeria. He is regarded as the man who revolutionized music education in Nigeria - having trained over 2000 persons in about 10 years of his career. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, a songwriter and record producer.
Career
Akapo began his music education career in Lagos in year 2000 by picking up appointments as a part-time music instructor with a number of primary and secondary schools. Some of the schools where he taught music include Olivefield International School-Surulere, Nigerian Model Schools-Mushin, Yetkem High School- Meiran,Princeway Schools- Oshodi, etc. He has also taught music in Pencils Film and Television Institute (PEFTI), Lagos, and Prince Adu College of Muisc, Ijanikin.
Choral Development Initiative (CHODEVIN)
In 2004 Akapo founded the Choral Development Initiative (CHODEVIN) - an initiative aimed at developing singing talents of young Nigerians. Under the umbrella of CHODEVIN he organized several training workshops and music events through which he empowered young and upcoming singers. In 2005 the CHODEVIN idea metamorphosed into a bigger organization - Foundation for Arts & Sustainable Development (FASDEV). It became a broader platform which extended to other forms of performing arts and activities geared towards developing talents. It was via this platform that he got invited in December 2005 to present an abstract at the 14th International Conference on AIDS & STIs in Africa (ICASA) where he gave insights on how to effectively get the AIDS pandemic message across to young people using the arts such as music, dance, drama, etc.
Tenstrings Music Institute
Tenstrings was founded in 2007 by Akapo after several years of experience in teaching music in both public and private institutions in Nigeria. According to Akapo, his major motivation for establishing the institute was the need to have a music college that will cater to the need of upcoming musicians who dream of becoming successful contemporary music artistes, as most of the other music schools focused more on the classical music methodology. In the first year, of running the institute it was difficult getting investors to support the realization of his dreamed facility. Therefore, it started running in partnership with Vivs Sight and Sound Studios - a bigger music company located in Festac Town, Lagos, where he operated for eight months before securing a property for the institute within same Festac Town. Admission into the institute between 2007 and 2009 was low due to inadequate publicity. But between 2009 and 2011 the institute experienced a swift growth, as it has recorded over 1,400 enrolments into various courses offered at the institute. Tenstrings has also opened three other study centers within Lagos and one Port Harcourt . His vision is to open at least one study center of the institute in every major city in the country.
Nigerian Music Conference
Shortly after establishing Tenstrings Music Institute in 2007, Akapo founded the Annual Nigerian Music Conference (NMC). The objective of the annual conference is to create a forum where key players in the Nigerian music sector can convene annually and deliberate on pungent issues affecting the sector. The event which has been running annually since then, is usually an interplay of analytical discussions amongst participants and live music performances. The conference dissects critical issues affecting the sector, shares ideas, connects, and empowers upcoming musicians towards building and sustaining a successful music career, while also providing leveraging opportunities for corporate bodies.
Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN)
Akapo Emmanuel is the official music training consultant with the . After sealing up this deal with PMAN in July 2011, he installed a study center of Tenstrings Music Institute inside the national secretariat of the association located in Ikeja, Lagos; there he provides professional music training for members of the association.
Certified under the British Council Creative Programme
In July 2011, Akapo participated and was certified at the Creative Enterprise Programme organized by British council Nigeria. This is the British Council’s initiative that empowers people in the creative industries towards becoming successful entrepreneurs.
Published works
#Essentials of Singing (Singers Handbook)
#Set Your Voice Free (Voice Training CD)
#How to Write Award-wining songs (Audio CD)
#Steps to a Successful Music Career (Audio CD)

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