Mohamed Yaziz Hassan

Instrument maker

Nicky Loh©Michelangelo Foundation

A defender of traditional Malay culture

Mohamed Yaziz taught himself to make drums from the age of 13
He specialises in making traditional Malay drums
He is the co-founder of a traditional Malay music ensemble in Singapore

Mohamed Yaziz Bin Mohamed Hassan began his journey with traditional Malay drum making by fixing his own torn drum at a very young age. Since his childhood he has basked in traditional Malay music and cultural activities. Mohamed Yaziz is now famous within the Malay music scene in Singapore and has won several competitions, locally and internationally. What he loves the most in his craft is his ability to transmit his passion for Malay culture through creating instruments and music. He teaches music to students, and also teaches them how to repair their own drums. "It requires great patience," he explains. "In Singapore, there are no traditional Malay drum shops and not all traditional drummers know how to fix their instruments," which, for Mohamed Yaziz, means that teaching the young generation these skills will help prevent the weakening of this culture.

Where

Interview

Nicky Loh©Michelangelo Foundation

Nicky Loh©Michelangelo Foundation

When and how did you start?: I started to create my own drums when I was 15 years old. In Singapore, traditional Malay drum shops are inexistant. So I wanted to make qualitative and accessible drums with the materials available in Singapore.
What is something about your work that people do not normally know?: In addition to being a drum artisan, I co-launched a music band – Nadi Singapura – to give more exposure to traditional Malay drums and percussions. Nadi, which means ‘flow of consciousness’ in Malay, features the most common Malayan drums found in Singapore.
Why did you choose this craft and career?: I have always been passionate about my cultural heritage: traditional Malay culture. When I first tried to fix the torn skin of my drum, it gave me so much satisfaction. Then, meeting with masters during festivals and learning from them was very fulfilling.
Can you tell us a memorable moment in your professional life?: I won several traditional Malay music competitions, including the National Day Parade 2009 Silver Award and being part of the NDP09 Show Committee, both big achievements. It is especially meaningful because it allows me to uphold and uplift my traditional culture.

Mohamed Yaziz Hassan is a master artisan: he began his career in 1996 and he started teaching in 2005