Emboldened by music

KOMPAS/ERWIN EDHI PRASETYA

Sugian Noor

In 1977, Sugian Noor was 9 years old when he was affected by polio. Both his legs were paralyzed and his right arm was smaller than the left one. With his physical limitations, Sugian was just capable of developing his musical talent, which was later imparted to children with disabilities.

Sugian is now training disabled children at the Disabled Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation (YPAC) in Surakarta, Central Java. The YPAC Surakarta building on Thursday (12/12/2019) afternoon was already quiet. Students and most teachers had returned home. However, Sugian, who is commonly called Om Sugi by the extraordinary school students of YPAC Surakarta, still felt at home in the musical studio.

The studio looks modest, measuring about 4 square meters. Its floor is covered with a green carpet and its walls lined with a green acoustic material. Musical instruments can be found there, including keyboards, drums, guitars and several loudspeakers. This room is a place for Sugian to explore and cultivate the musical talents of students following YPAC Music Percussion extracurricular activities.

The whole personnel of the YPAC Music Percussion group are children with disabilities, both physically disabled and mentally handicapped. Each of them has a specific role, such as playing the keyboard, tambourine, maracas, vocals, guitar, djembe and drum.

Originally, I trained music for therapy.

The YPAC Music Percussion group has appeared in various activities, among other events the World Children Day commemoration and the 30th anniversary of the Children’s Rights Convention in Surakarta City Hall on Nov. 19, 2019. At the time, they displayed their musical skills before Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga. They also perform monthly on Sunday during the car-free day on Jl. Slamet Riyadi.

“Originally, I trained music for therapy. But I want to build an atmosphere that’s not like therapy, so I guide the children how to enjoy playing music, without feeling any compulsion,” said the honorary teacher, who handles the subject of art and culture and skills training at YPAC Solo.

Sugi pioneered the YPAC Music Percussion group in 2006. Before promoting the group, Sugi had trained kulintang (idiophone) for the extracurricular activity of YPAC Surakarta. When he spearheaded the percussion group, YPAC Surakarta did not yet have a studio and its musical instruments.

Used articles

Sugi utilized a number of used materials, such as a gallon-sized water container and used plastic drum for garbage, as musical instruments. Used drinking water bottles were filled with rice or mung beans as maracas and a tambourine was made from beverage bottle caps. To date, the YPAC Music Percussion group has retained the used garbage plastic drum when performing in public.

Sugi’s strict musical training has been concretely fruitful. The musical talents of disabled children have blossomed. They are capable of playing music in harmony when presenting popular songs. This has earned appreciation from the general public. Some circles have even contributed music instruments to the foundation. YPAC Surakarta has also purchased different instruments needed.

“In the beginning, when the percussion group was set up, I didn’t request any budget because it still had nothing to show. I had to prove it first,” said Sugi who uses a wheelchair for his daily activities.

Sugi said playing music would train disabled children to be independent. It’s also an effective way of nurturing their self-confidence.

“While they were first shy to face many people, now they have become bold enough and self-confident to appear in public,” said Sugi, who started teaching at YPAC Surakarta in 1992.

There are no creations of God’s failure.

His effort has not been easy. Sugi has been untiringly motivating his students to optimize the potential they possess in spite of their various physical and mental limitations. He is convinced that every child born in the world has his or her own special trait. It’s this special characteristic that has to be discovered, cultivated and developed.

“There are no creations of God’s failure. God’s creations must be beneficial and useful for yourselves and people around you,” he said, repeating the advice he has frequently given to his trainees.

Sugi taught himself music when he was an extraordinary school (SLB) student of YPAC Surakarta. He first learned to play the guitar. To

overcome his paralyzed right fingers due to polio, he fastened them with one with a rubber band every time he practiced. One day when he was exercising, he was praised for the pleasant melody he played.

This motivated him to train more. More praises ensued, so he trained more diligently. Then, Sugi was attracted by the keyboard. He taught himself the instrument in the 1980s while he was staying in a lodging house in Badran, Surakarta.

The landlord at the time owned a keyboard but he never played it. So, Sugi borrowed it for his practice.

“Now I like playing the keyboard most,” he said.

Sugi benefits from his keyboard skills by earning extra income outside his teaching hours. Quite often, he is invited to give solo organ performances at wedding ceremonies and other programs.

“I’ve been better known as Sugi the solo organ player, rather than Sugi the wheelchair man,” he remarked.

Apart from training music, he is also active in social activities by encouraging fellow disabled people affiliated with the Self Help Group (SHG) Surakarta he heads to be economically independent. The SHG that was initiated by nongovernmental organization the Center for Public Self Help Rehabilitation Development (PPRBM) Surakarta in 2010 and now has 17 adult disabled members.

“Through the SHG, we strive to economically empower members to be independent,” he said.

KOMPAS/ERWIN EDHI PRASETYA

Sugian Noor

For this purpose, entrepreneurship training as well as savings and loans are arranged for members. Cooperating with the PPRBM, it organizes sewing and handicraft making training. Some SHG Surakarta members are now opening sewing service, culinary supply and handicraft-making businesses. Every Sunday during car-free day in Surakarta, the SHG opens kiosks to sell various products made by its members, including culinary specialties, handicrafts and garments. They are competing with other vendors offering their merchandise along the city-walk of Surakarta.

Ten percent of their profit goes to the organizational treasury. The funds accumulated are utilized to assist SHG members, among others through savings and loans, which applies the concept of group collective responsibility. A group of borrowers is at least composed of three people.

If any group member has difficulty with loan repayments, it has to be collectively borne by other group members. In this way, no loans will be stagnant so that the funds can be further used to help other members.

“For me, the disabled should be independent, productive and creative. Otherwise, we would be regarded as just ordinary handicapped people,” added Sugi.

Sugian Noor

Born: Jakarta, June 12, 1968

Education:

1. SLB YPAC Surakarta

2. Pancasila Senior High School, Surakarta

3. Bachelor’s degree, School of Law, Islam Batik University, Surakarta

Wife: Ratna Wijayanti, 37

Children: Abiyasa Noor Dewangga, 9, Nandya Noor Alqilla, 7