School-wide Assembly A school-wide assembly is an excellent opportunity to introduce your students to the music and culture of West and Southern Africa. Kutandara Center directors and ensembles provide an educational, interactive performance, including an introduction to African instruments, songs and culture, history of Zimbabwean-style marimba music and West African djembe drumming, and many examples of traditional and contemporary songs. Workshops Workshops allow a smaller group of students (8-15 in each workshop group) to work more closely with Kutandara Center directors, staff, and ensemble members. In music workshops, students learn African music in a classroom setting with instruction including an introduction to the instruments, proper playing technique, and ensemble skills. Special emphasis will be placed on learning music aurally (without the use of written music). By the completion of the workshops, each workshop group will have learned a West or southern African song using voices, small percussion, drums or marimbas. In culture and craft workshops, students learn simple Zimbabwean greetings and phrases and experiment with materials and crafting techniques found in southern Africa. By the completion of the workshops, students will have mastered simple greetings and have completed an African craft to take home. Alternatively, Kutandara Center staff can work with Art or PE teachers to provide ideas for lessons plans that complement music workshops. Student Sharing for Peers and Family At the conclusion of the program, workshop participants may present their work in a small-scale sharing at their school facilitated by Kutandara Center staff. Additional Learning Opportunities during the Program Instruments may remain at the school for the duration of the program and are available to school music educators to use in their lessons plans. Kutandara Center directors are also available to provide a complimentary work session for music educators on musical styles, playing technique, and additional ideas for lesson plans. Funding This program was developed jointly with the Boulder Valley School District in 2001 and was awarded grant funding (Arts and Humanities Assembly of Boulder County Mini-grant, $500; Arts and Humanities Assembly of Boulder County/Neodata Endowment, $2500; Flatirons Crossing Foundation, $5000) to purchase a set of traveling marimbas and other necessary equipment for this exciting program. Funding for instruction and performances come directly from participating schools.
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Kutandara Center is pleased to offer a school-based African music and culture program. Instruments are housed permanently at New Vista High School where marimba classes are offered 2 quarters each year. Instruments are available for use by other schools in the Boulder Valley School District with instruction offered by Kutandara Center staff. Programs can last from one day to two weeks, depending on a school's budget and scheduling flexibility.