Marimbas and More

This week I shared a video of three marimba players I recorded while walking along the boardwalk in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.  The students were asked to put the beat in their feet while watching.   This was the introduction to this week's music activities, playing the bass xylophones and metalophones with our songs we have been learning.  Below is a 2nd grade class and a 5th grade class.

To make a connections, all the classes got to play the  bass xylophones and metalophones in the classroom to the songs we have been working on.  The accompaniments ranged from easy two hand ostinato patterns to cross-over patterns.

Our CFIES learners also practiced their conversations by adding "Molo kwendini" for a little boy or "Molo tambanzano" for a little girl.  They also learned young girl and boy, older man and woman, and teacher.  

During this week, we had visitors from Raleigh come to our classes because our school was being observed for  our NC Global Ready Model School application.   I had a 5th grade classes in while they visited my classroom.  We were discussing instruments from Africa at the time.  I had an opportunity to share the different drums and instruments that are in the classroom.  One of the students played the djembe so well after discussing how to get different sounds from the drum I just had to record her playing.  The drum was actually one I purchased  at the street market while in  South Africa this summer.

Bringing Africa to the Classroom

Ms. LaPorta's 2nd Graders

Our elementary school, Carolina Forest International Elementary thrives on learning about cultures from different places.  Since I spent a month in South Africa and had Xhosa language lessons at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, I am sharing with my students.  This is the 1st introductory lessons on greeting people.  It is a "Hello; Hello;  How are you?  I am fine thank-you, and how are you?  I am fine also, thank-you" rehearsed conversation setting.  Listen how well these learners pick up the language.  I have an awesome student leader, Riley.

In this setting, I have two 5th grade students greeting each other.  Nice job girls.

Now you are probably wondering why are you doing this in "Music Class"?  I guess it is my passion to share my African experience with my students as well as the fact that it fits in with our music class routine.  I started with a movement activity, and this week I showed a video of Emafini's choir and their 8 step move.  I had CFIES learners trying to move along with them (not with a lot of success!  It's harder for our students than you think)   We got to discuss the different language of the song and tried it out ourselves.  Great mini lesson.  Stay tuned for next week's update!

The Bitter End

 My last post.




South Africa is Beautiful.




Everything I thought it would be and more.

Beautiful Sun Sets

 Trees and plant life were so different.  So many new types of plants.

Amazing Animals and many game reserves

"Make A Friend"  from the first day of lessons at Emafini to the last day celebration.

The Children of South Africa

 The not so beautiful  South Africa.  

The litter - it was eye opening.                                                                   

 Rows of poor housing and squatter's camps

 Just a couple of comments on the litter.

1st -  This is a job opportunity.  When the litter gets bad enough, the government pays people to  clean up areas.


2nd -  One person commented that they were not concerned about the litter.  Even if you did pick it up today, the wind would blow more and it would be littered all over again.   (I don't get that one).

I can look through the thousand and so pictures I took from this month-long visit to South Africa and say to myself, what a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.  I hope I will be able to share my music experiences with other teachers near and far.  Sala kakuhle.  (Xhosa: Goodye! Stay well)

My African Big Five

Most people are familiar with the Big Five African Animals.  Well I have my own African Big Five. These people have left a big impression on me during this African Adventure.  I have been home for almost two weeks and this blog has been on my mind.

Thandile Gladile

I have already spoken about Thandile in an earlier blog.  I have promised myself to make a difference and help her raise money for walking sticks for the blind.  She has touched my heart and I plan on leading my church Pioneer Club on a service project to raise money and send it to her cause.

                 Vernon Naidoo is the second of my big five.  I did not give him credit in my earlier blog "Show of Hands" because I did not understand the intricate part he played in Volkswagen For Good "The Great Show of Hands".  Later, I noticed him at a second location we visited: Kama Elementary School.  During our tour of the school, he showed up 

Vernon Naidoo (not the best picture)

in the computer lab of this school. He made it possible for this school to have this computer lab.  Vernon was talking to a group of us and he explained why he puts so much into this community; Lovelife Center,  Htlemeza Primary School in Uitenhage, and now Kama.  These learners are the children of his current employees and that will one day be the workers in the Volkswagen plant in Port Elizabeth.  He has a genuine interest in these learners' education to help them become future citizens  for the community and beyond.   His work makes a difference today and is building the future.

                  The next person that made my big five is Lloyd Edwards.  He is the person that runs Raggy Charters out of Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth, which was our whale watching adventure.   During this cruise, we 

Lloyd Ewards, his wife and our tour guide.

did not see whales, but so much more.  Before we went out in the boat, Lloyd spoke to us.  First it was about the election..surprise suprise.   Now you must remember, we were there during the election time.  I didn't blog on this topic...even though I had a rough draft ..never published commentary.  But what really resonated with me was that he said the outcome of the election was not something he expected to see in his life time.  Yes, changes needed to be made and the voters made it happen.  The next thing that I was in total awe about is the fact he made this a learning adventure...not just a whale watching expedition.   He told us about St. Croix and how the African Penguins were not able to sustain their colony because of the fishing boats in the area.  He gave credit to his wife for making a difference now and how they are making a come back.  Finally, he said  for the fuel it is going to take for us to go out and for the foot steps I have made on South Africa, he challenged each one of us to plant five trees, to make a difference for our being.  I accept that challenge.  I will plant five trees or shrubs.

This is Julian, our taxi driver.  He is the fourth of my big five.  He was with us for the entire trip expect for the first two days.  Wow!  I learned a lot just riding in his vehicle each day.   First of all, there is a special  language that all South African taxi drivers speak, and I am talking about their taxi horn.  In America, one blows their 

Julian

horn when one is mad or not approving of how another person is driving.  Not in South Africa.  You blow your horn for positive gestures. (occasionally it was a watch your driving sort of honk).    He was a very safe driver.  Everyday, he got us to our destinations whether it was Emafini or NMMU or even that fantastic farm market he introduced to us on the way to Grahamstown!  When we had questions about the different culture, he would kindly explain.  He even introduced us to the delicious "fat cakes".   Julian would also drive us to locations on the weekends.  If a large group of us wanted to go somewhere, not on the original itinerary, he volunteered to drive us.  (We did pay him for those trips).  He located the monkeys on the campus of NMMU and drove us to see them.  He researched places we asked about and shared information about them.  Thank you Julian for your gracious service and making our Port Elizabeth visit  a wonderful experience.

Donyell Roseboro dancing at Lovelife Center

And finally, but non the least, my last African Big Five is Donyell Roseboro.  She is not from South Africa at all, she is a professor at UNCW and the master mind of this wonderful experience.  She was the lead in our South African Culture, History, and Literacy Program  (SACHL Program) Fulbright-Hays Short Term Study Abroad Project for 2015-2016.  Without her vision and drive to make this happen, I would not have had the opportunity of a lifetime in this African adventure.   Donyell has demonstrated and shared her love for South Africa and Emifini.  I have one video from our last day at Emifini and  she quoted from her favorite American poet, Maya Angelou, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."   Donyell, you have shared your love and experience of South Africa and Emafini with me and I will not forget how it has made me feel.  Thank you for all you have done.  

The Games They Play

On our last day at Emafini, I walked around outside to just see what the students do during their lunch break.  There is at least an hour of unsupervised time.  Most learners, no matter what age, play in small groups.

Finding some shade to hang out with friends.

 Usually, girls are playing together and have their games while boys have their games.  One thing that struck me as odd is the fact that there are specific girls' games and boys' games.  This first video is jump rope.  This game of jump rope has a different twist to it.  It would be great to teach this to our students.

A wrapped top ready for throwing down and spinning.  

                                   In the second video, the boys are playing with their tops.  It is quite fascinating to see them throw them down and while they are still spinning, pick them up in their hands.   The day before, I traded with a fifth grade boy, a harmonica for a top.  I don't know if I could ever wrap and throw it down so it spins, but I am going to try.Walking around that afternoon, a couple of young girls are just having a nice conversation while using the broken fence slat as a teeter-totter.  Another group of girls played a hand clapping game.  

As I continued to move around the school grounds, I saw some boys playing marbles and also a group of older boys pitching coins.  Pitching coins was not permitted because one of the 7th grade monitors went up to them and broke the game up.  I also saw some boys playing soccer. Soccer balls can be made from a number of types of material.  In fact one of them was made from plastic bags, tape and an old onion bag.

In the next two videos there are are some more jump rope games the girls where playing.  I find it amazing that the different ages of the girls will have different variations of jump rope games.  Actually, I did see the youngest group trying one of the other routines without success.  

And the last game that I watched reminded me of ball and jacks game.  I had a young learner explain the process: Begin with a number of stones in a circle,  Throw a stone up and pull as many stones out of the circle.  Next, throw the stone up and put all but one stone back into the circle.  Each time you are successful you get to keep that point.  The girls would continue throwing the stone up, moving the stones in and out of the circle and catching the stone before it hits the ground.   Only girls play this game.    

Last Day at Emafini

                    Our final day at Emafini on Thursday was bitter-sweet.  We arrived at the school during the noon break. (We went to BayWorld in the morning)  So I spent the 1st hour walking around watching the learners play and just be kids.  We gathered in the "teacher's lounge" area and as the Emafini teachers arrived, they were dressed in their formal wear.  Remember how colorful I said Women's Day was,  well, this is almost a replay of what I didn't take pictures of.  The ladies were all singing songs and dancing as people were arriving for the last ceremony.  Please take a listen to a couple short clips.  The harmony and parts are all without accompaniments and it is just beautiful.

                     During this farewell celebration lots of singing and dancing took place.  In fact, if there was a break between speakers or presentations, there was a song! 

During the celebration, a number of Emafini teachers spoke about their experience with the American teacher they got to work with.  I recorded Ntuthu as she shared.  My heart was overwhelmed when she said she thought she was finished but she learned that teachers are life-long learners.  I am glad to  have the opportunity to make a difference in her teaching career.    

NMMU Xhosa Experience

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Choir

What a treat today, listening to the NMMU Choir!  They are a wonderfully talented group of young adults that put their hearts into singing.  I chose to share one of my favorites, a Xhosa song that uses all the different clicks in the song.   First of all, my CFIES colleagues and I can make a connection because we have experience learning these clicking sounds in our language lessons with Ron...also at NMMU.  In the first video, the student explains how to do them...and yes, not everyone can!!!   Second of all, the audience had such a fun reaction, I thought I was in the Rocky Horror Picture Show with all the hooting and participation coming from all around us.  Please take the time to listen to this song.  In fact, I may even put another song on so you can hear just how good this group is.  The second song is a Northern African song about the rain, lighting and thunder.  Enjoy!