Choirs to Improve English Literacy of SA Children

Teachers and fellow learners beamed with pride as they participated in the ABC Motsepe South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE). SASCE is one of the biggest school choral music competitions in South Africa under the Department of Basic Education. Each year the Eisteddfod draws in thousands of learners from across the country, mostly from rural areas, to compete and stand a chance to win prizes designed to improve the school and community at large. The competition has more than 30 different categories at national level and runs for four days. The first day of the competition is dedicated to primary schools, and two of our schools in The Legacy Project participated in this category, namely Kwashange Primary School and Emadolobheni Primary.

This is a huge step for the teachers and it show cases their learning and growth within the programme. Once a term they attend a music teachers workshop at our supporting schools, where they acquire intensive and high level coaching sessions by qualified music teachers. The coaching sessions range from conducting, orchestration, accompaniment, rhythm and breathing as well as basic routines such as warm up or filing in and out of a room. The goal of these workshops is for the teachers to gain knowledge and skills on how to run a choir.

A big congratulation to Kwashange Primary School and Emadolobheni Primary School choirs who scooped up top positions in their respective districts of UThukela and Pietermaritzburg.

None of this would be have been possible without the support of our donors. I would like to thank all of our donors and partners for your support on this journey.  

Our deepest gratitude to YOU, our faithful donors. Without your contributions,  we would not even have started the year, but we are pleased to report our extended reach into 16 schools in 2023. We look forward to your company during our ongoing journey of song, literacy, empowerment and leadership.

Children and their Choirs

Competition to participate in the choirs has become fierce, having to limit choir numbers to just 40 per school choir.... due to the affordability of catering / group transport to festivals, or when necessary. Each school may enable a larger number of choristers to particpate in choir rehearsals, but then a smaller selected chamber choir will represent them at the 2023 Siyacula Festival. The choirs have entusiastically started working on their 4 chosen songs. If participating in the ABRSM this year, they will be encouraged to choose a fifth song in their home language, isiZulu.

Principal Leadership Workshop: Community Building  31 January- 1 February 2023

This year’s first principal leadership workshop kicked off with a bang. The theme was Community Building and the workshop was led by Dr Rama N. Special thanks to Karen and Justin of Citizen Leader Lab's "Partners for Possibility" programme,  for co-facilitating and sharing the costs of the course, and to Akhona and the Michaelhouse Community Partnership  for graciously hosting us. The principals involved in The Legacy Project attended this two-day course with their local community leaders, local religious leaders and "induna’s" (local chiefs), with the goal to foster bonds and connections with the broader communities around the schools with which we work. It also provided the opportunity to share the real life challenges with which our communities grapple ,  and to co-create a way forward.

To do this we were split into small groups of 3, small enough to demonstrate that each member gets a chance to participate in the group discussion. In these small groups we were challenged and encouraged to be vulnerable and share something personal about where we are right now in our life’s journey. This demonstrated trust building, which can be replicated in communites, where one is trained to listen  with intent ... to understand and not to respond. The important take away, was that connection is more important than content. This set the stage for the following  six conversation connections, namely: Possibility, Ownership, Dissent. Commitment, Invitation and Gifts.

The take away was the African proverb “Umuntu ungumuntu, ngabantu”.... I am because you are. Humanity towards others. Transforming education for sustainable livelihoods requires all stakeholders to work together in order to make better the lives of the future generation. Follow up will take place in the next month or so to assess what has been applied practically by our principals in their communities. 

Music Teachers Workshop: 15 February 2023 

After gaining knowledge and skills on the basics of establishing a choir, this year our music teachers embark on yet another journey towards fulfilling their goals of running their own school choirs. At our first Music Teachers Workshop, the teachers were excited to get to learn the fundamentals of reading music and notes. Mrs D and Mr B also facilitated our conducting and theory sessions, which was a build-up of what the teachers were learning and practicing last year. 

They were taught about conducting basics (such as body posture and positions), and how the conductor must demonstrate the posture they wish to see in their singers ...because the singer mirrors the conductor!!! They were also taught about the three basic conducting patterns known as the meter of the music, which embraces 2,3, or 4 beats. Our teachers also took home a copy which explains how sound and silence lengths are organized.... please see the Rhythm document below!

THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN FOR MAKING THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE. We will continue to celebrate you as the year gets into full swing..... 

Links:

• Epworth and the EPIC Legacy Project puts Epworth IN Community
• Thank you Michaelhouse Community Partnership for hosting us
• Partners for Possibility co-facilitated the Principals Workshop

• Rhythm ... Music Teachers workshop 15 Feb 2023 (PDF)