CHANGING LIVES THROUGH MARIMBAS A PRESENTATION BY JOAN LITHGOW FROM EDUCATION AFRICA
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- Slide 1
- CHANGING LIVES THROUGH MARIMBAS A PRESENTATION BY JOAN LITHGOW
FROM EDUCATION AFRICA
- Slide 2
- MUSIC EDUCATION IS AN ELITIST ACTIVITY By and large music
education is an ELITIST activity in most of the world. Only those
people who can afford private lessons, expensive instruments and
exam fees can enter this elitist club While I fully acknowledge the
incredible work that all private music teachers do, I, personally
believe that music lessons should be for everyone and NOT just the
few that can afford them.
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- When I am asked why I teach music the answer is never to create
good music, or create musicians! It is always the other things that
engaging in music-making does for children: team-building, building
of self-esteem, creating a feeling of belonging, developing
listening skills for life, being empathetic to others, sensitivity,
etc etc. If I get good music out as well it is a bonus. The good
music is a by-product of the process not the main product!
- Slide 4
- INTRODUCTION TO MARIMBAS WHAT IS A MARIMBA? A musical
instrument that has a frame, resonators and tuned wooden bars Comes
in all shapes and sizes Orchestral marimbas African marimbas
Marimbas from Guatamala etc etc Difference between a marimba and a
xylophone
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- EXAMPLES OF VARIOUS MARIMBAS
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- PIPE RESONATORS
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- GOURD RESONATORS
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- BOX RESONATORS
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- ORCHESTRAL MARIMBA
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- WHERE DO MARIMBAS COME FROM? Africa? Guatamala? Asia?
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- BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MARIMBA IN SOUTH AFRICA Through tremendous
effort made in the past decade by various marimba manufacturers,
individuals, educational institutions and NGOs marimba-playing has
become a sought-after activity by youth of all socio-economic
backgrounds. There is only evidence of two communities in South
Africa who once played a truly African xylophone/marimba. These are
the Venda and the Shangana/Tsonga, both from the far north. There
are no recordings of these available and they are completely
obsolete.
- Slide 12
- However, since the 1970s when marimbas were brought down from
Zimbabwe to South Africa a growing tradition of marimba playing has
developed. We now have a burgeoning community of marimba players
with thousands of children and adults playing on a variety of
marimba instruments throughout South Africa. Unfortunately, the
communities that most need to be playing marimbas, seldom get the
opportunity as there is no money to set up marimba schools.
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- THE REALITY OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IN MOST OF OUR GOVERNMENT
SCHOOLS Distinct lack of extra-mural activities Huge class sizes
Unmotivated teachers due to huge class sizes Undisciplined classes:
due to class size and therefore lack of personal space Unqualified
teachers with subjects often being taught by teachers who have NO
knowledge of the subject whatsoever! Particularly evident in
Creative Arts!
- Slide 14
- EDUCATION AFRICA Education Africas mission statement is quite
clear: Established in 1992, Education Africa strives to reach and
uplift the poorest of the poor. We aim to assist disadvantaged
South Africans in their quest to obtain a quality, relevant
education in order to ensure that they are in a position to become
global citizens and a competitive, productive element in the local
job market. Education Africa aims for an educated nation, which in
turn will lead to a progressive nation that is in a position to
sustain economic growth. The educational value of marimba-playing
cannot be over- emphasized enough. Equally important is the fact
that the marimba is a musical instrument of African origin that can
easily be played by everyone within a short space of time.
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- MY WORK AT EDUCATION AFRICA Establish marimba hubs Train
teachers to teach the marimba Train children Organise the annual
Education Africa International Marimba and Steelpan Festival which
attracts about 1600 marimba and steelpan players from South Africa
and internationally. This is the largest festival of its kind in
the world. International tours with marimba bands from
disadvantaged communities.
- Slide 16
- UNIQUE METHODOLOGY TO TEACH LARGE GROUPS TO PLAY THE MARIMBA
Teach by rote in small bite-size chunks Teach everyone all the
parts Dummy keyboards Memory joggers Rhythmic vocabulary
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- ROTE TEACHING Extremely difficult to read music playing a
keyboard that does not have the black keys Complicated and
syncopated rhythms are taught all the time which if taught by music
reading would take forever to teach! Listening, memory and
concentration skills are honed when teaching by rote. It follows
the good teaching practice of: HEAR DO AND THEN SEE! AURAL SKILLS
are developed ALL the time!
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- WHY TEACH ALL PARTS TO EVERYONE? Allows every child the
opportunity to grow in the music Gives every child the vision to
see where they can go in the piece You never have to cancel a
performance because one band member does not arrive Memory
development Creates an understanding of the full score and how all
the parts fit together
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- DUMMY KEYBOARDS Allows more children to learn at the same time
Keeps every child focused throughout the lesson Excellent as a
discipline tool Gives the learners opportunity to use their tactile
sense No one loses when you use dummy keyboards: you hear the part,
you play the part You only teach ONCE!
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- USE OF MEMORY JOGGERS Graphic representation of the score Only
used to jog the memory Particularly useful for people who dont read
music May be used in conjunction with other forms of technology:
cell phones/mp3s Many scores are rhythmically too difficult to read
for instant music to take place
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- RHYTHMIC VOCABULARY Assists with memory of the rhythms As a
result of initial good and thorough teaching with rhythmic
vocabulary the learning curve escalates after the first piece
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- A TYPICAL CLASSROOM ARRANGEMENT
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- WHY EVERY SOUTH AFRICAN CHILD SHOULD BE PLAYING MARIMBAS
- Slide 25
- The marimba is a robust, low maintenance, portable instrument
that does not need electricity to operate! No prior knowledge or
musical experience is needed. Teachers/facilitators can be trained
within a relatively few hours and learners are able to play a piece
of music in their very first lesson. Players can advance from
beginners to fantastic performers within a short space of time.
Concentration skills are greatly enhanced and worked upon when
learning to play marimbas. Self-confidence and self-esteem are
greatly boosted as there is a part for every child to play,
regardless of ability.
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- Because of the recommended technique of playing marimbas: hand
to hand/ alternating handsboth sides of the brain are being
exercised equally. This does not often happen in many other
activities. Playing music together is a team effort! Each and every
member of the team is equally important. Because it is recommended
that hands are alternated all the time, crossing of the midline
becomes second nature. Listening skills are greatly enhanced when
playing marimbas: players need to play absolutely together to
create a piece of music. Through various games and exercises
learners aural training skills may be developed.
- Slide 27
- It is a known fact that maths and music are inter-related.
Marimba music is strongly based on patterning: maths is also full
of patterning. It goes without saying that the one helps and
reinforces the other. The science of sound production can be
demonstrated and studied through the marimba. Through singing and
spelling games on the marimba, language skills and spelling is
improved.
- Slide 28
- The bars on the marimba are fairly wide so learners with poor
fine-motor coordination are still able to play with ease.
Physically and mentally challenged individuals can play marimbas
and be part of a marimba band. Fine- and gross-motor coordination
are constantly being worked on when the learners are playing
marimbas. Learners who do not have dexterity in their fingers for
whatever reason often find it difficult, if not impossible, to play
a melodic musical instrument. The marimba offers these learners the
opportunity to play a melodic instrument.
- Slide 29
- The nature of the music for marimbas is such that there are
very easy parts and then there are parts that are graded according
to abilities. By using dummy keyboards in the classroom every
learner is focused on playing at the same time. This alleviates
discipline problems. All genres of music can be played on marimbas.
With imagination, patience and a sense of fun the music classroom
is transformed into a magical soundscape. The instruments sell
themselves in the classroom and EVERYONE wants to play!
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- ASSESSMENT
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- ASSESSMENT OF A MARIMBA PIECE RUBRIK 123456 BASS PART Has very
little concept of the rhythm and the notes of the part Weak
rhythmic sense with less than half of the notes well known Fair
rhythmic sense with more than half of the notes well known Mostly
steady rhythm with a few incorrect notes Steady rhythm with notes
mostly correct Excellent rhythm, correct notes 2 ND PART Has very
little concept of the rhythm and the notes of the part Weak
rhythmic sense with less than half of the notes well known Fair
rhythmic sense with more than half of the notes well known Mostly
steady rhythm with a few incorrect notes Steady rhythm with notes
mostly correct Excellent rhythm, correct notes MELODY Has very
little concept of the rhythm and the notes of the part Weak
rhythmic sense with less than half of the notes well known Fair
rhythmic sense with more than half of the notes well known Mostly
steady rhythm with a few incorrect notes Steady rhythm with notes
mostly correct Excellent rhythm, correct notes ENSEMBLE Is not able
to play an independent part with others Is able to keep an
independent part going for a only a bar or two Is able to play an
independent part with others for at least half the piece Is able to
play an independent part for more than half the piece Is able to
play an independent part with others with very little rhythmic
inaccuracy Sensitive to other players, keeps playing no matter
what! TECHNIQUE None of the five rules adhered to 1 of the 5 rules
adhered to 2 of the 5 rules adhered to 3 of the 5 rules adhered to
4 of the 5 rules adhered to All 5 rules adhered to.
- Slide 32
- TECHNIQUE RULES BOUNCING STICKS ALTERNATING HANDS NO INDEX
FINGER ON THE BEATERS PLAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BARS NO
BANGING
- Slide 33
- THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EDUCATION AFRICA INTERNATIONAL MARIMBA
AND STEELPAN FESTIVAL INCLUSIVITY SOCIAL COHESION SOCIAL CHANGE
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
- Slide 34
- INTERNATIONAL MARIMBA AND STEELPAN FESTIVAL 2014 DATES: 2 nd
AND 3 rd AUGUST 2014 VENUE: ST BENEDICTS COLLEGE HARCUS ROAD
BEDFORDVIEW GAUTENG Email: joan@educationafrica.org WEBSITE:
www.internationalmarimbafestival.org
www.internationalmarimbafestival.org