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NMMU Music Engages Learning

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At the start of 2015, as part of the Northern Arts Festival, Greenwood Primary School Wind Band hosted Fletch Wiley an American trumpeter. The workshop was produced by Twotone Music and was run by Gareth Williams, NMMU lecturer in Clarinet and Saxophone. This was the start of an extraordinary musical collaboration between NMMU and Greenwood.

After presenting the workshop Wiley was so impressed with the Greenwood band that he requested to return to the school on the last day of his visit so that they could play for him and where he continued coaching the young learners. At the same time Williams’ keen eye for emerging talent saw an opportunity for enriching the young learners even further. Williams presented the NMMU methodology teaching course as part of practical outreach teaching experience for his NMMU students. “In teaching instrumentalists at all levels the largest focus of time has been on correcting technical shortcomings and re-enforcing them with new positive music and performance habits” says Williams. “Our students needed to experience firsthand, the same issues that they faced as young music beginners.”

Thankfully, Jackie Barnardo head of music at Greenwood Primary School agreed to the initiative and teaching was commenced at the start of the second school term. Williams would teach while his NMMU students observed, every now and again there is a short discussion on how the hand is too small for the instrument at this stage in development or how the shape of the mouth is inhibiting a clear melodious sound. At certain times the students were also teaching the young learners who were always enthusiastic, highly appreciative and positive about the new musical inputs. Bernardo agrees that Williams and the NMMU students had brought new and advanced insights not only to the young musicians at Greenwood but also to the teaching staff, who now had new tools to use in the teaching of single reed instruments and in the band.

“There is something different about a child who takes music at Greenwood, they seem more disciplined, more focused and hardworking,” says Williams. “I am not sure what the reasons are all I know is that the music staff are driven, persistent and very supportive of the needs of these young musicians; and that definitely plays a crucial role.”

So, to celebrate this collaboration with Greenwood, the NMMU Wind Symphony conducted by Williams presents a concert on Sunday, 25th September at 3pm in St Mary’s Cathedral. The concert will feature the the Greenwood Primary School Wind Band in the first half of the programme. The second half, presented by the NMMU Wind Symphony boasts the Binge Saxophone Concerto performed by French saxophonist and teacher, Paul Richard. The programme will be concluded in true South African style with the foot-tapping rhythms of Miriam Makeba and the likes. Vocalists will include Miranda Ncwane, Xolisile Jack, Courtney Williams and Zanele Maphaphu all members of the Twotone Vocal Crew and NMMU.

Tickets to the concert can be purchased at the door. Cost is R60, R40 (Pensioners) and R20 (students). For more information call Nicky on 041-5044235.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.