2020

Lockdown as a result of the COVID-pandemic means Education Africa can no longer do in-person training at Education Africa’s Marimba Hubs. Since the only feasible platform is to give lessons/tutorials via WhatsApp utilising data, James and the Education Africa Marimba team produce tutorial videos to teach new music to marimba educators via this platform. On the Monday the bass part is taught; on the Wednesday, the middle part; and on the Friday, the melody followed by all of the parts put together via the “Acapella” platform. Many new pieces are taught in this way during the course of the lockdown. Revision theory tutorials with worksheets are also presented this way. Through this approach Education Africa’s Marimba Educators were well prepared and ready to resume teaching as soon as government regulatory restrictions were lifted. All tutorials are stored in a virtual library for easy access. Interesting Fact: this programme was at risk of being decimated by the pandemic. However, participation numbers actually increased by 10% when schools reopened.