- Students learn marimba and how to play together as a group, but more importantly how to be a good teammate, and how to be a great community member.
- Each session, we revisit concepts over and over through time; together with our students, we deepen our knowledge and experience through this spiral learning.
- Once or twice each year, students have the opportunity to bring a friend during our Bring-a-Friend week and learn the #songoftheseason during our One Song, Once Community campaign.
- On the rare occasion, classes are invited to perform at our concert series concerts, but all student groups are invited to play at our annual Spring Student Festival in May.
Twiza (Giraffe)/ Mbizi (Zebra) Marimba
Levels 1 + 2
Ages 6-8 / Grades 1-3
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Nzou (Elephant)/Mvuu (Hippo) Marimba
Levels 1 + 2
Ages 9-12 / Grades 4-7
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In our level 2 Zebra and Hippo classes, we are finding the main note chords (C major) and passing chords (D minor) on all the marimbas. We are learning about other chords on the marimba, too! We are learning about the relationship between basic patterns and harmony patterns in Zimbabwean-style marimba music, and are figuring out how to find one if we know the other. We are learning to play syncopated chords and basic running lines while stepping to the beat comfortably, and learning how to fit parts together that do not start on the same beat. Sometimes we even get to play the hosho!
Shumba (Lion) + Mukanya (Baboon) Marimba
Level 3 / 4 | Ages 10-16 | Grades 4-10
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In our level 3 class, we are working on easily finding the G chord, C chord, and D chord on any marimba, and understanding the F#. Did you know that the F# is the difference between a D major and a D minor chord? We do! We are also learning shangara sticking patterns and learning to play them in sync with the group. We are getting better at fluidity on the higher instruments and strength and precision on the lower instruments. We are learning to play the hosho, and trying to move our bodies while we play and step to the beat. We are learning about syncopation, and how to play parts together that have different kinds of syncopation. We are becoming a team, and we are actively trying to play well together by listening to each other. It’s called “groove.” Did you know that? We are also learning how to remember more complex arrangements, and how to make up our own variations in the style with guidance from our teachers. Cool, huh?
