In January we will hold two Mbira (African Thumb Piano) workshops for children. One for pre-school children (age 4-6) and a second for primary school children (age 7-12).
Pre-School Children Workshop
Join us for a one-day, one-hour workshop to learn about the Mbira (African Thumb Piano). Through a variety of musical games and exercises we will explore basic playing techniques, musical skills and history of this diverse instrument.
While many are familiar with the Kalimba, this workshop delves deeper into its roots by exploring various lamellophones from across the African continent and its diaspora. Children will have the opportunity to play different melodies on the mbira, engage with one another, and discover new cultures and instruments. This workshop is not only about learning the instrument; it is also about developing social skills through collective musical games! We will learn some basic polyrhythms and how to improvise in the pentatonic scale using mbiras.
This workshop will be led by Joseph Weinberg, a South African percussionist with a deep passion for the mbira.
Workshop Schedule:
- Ice Breaker & Meet and Greet (5 min)
Let’s get to know each other through fun warm-up games! - Instrument Introduction (5 min)
Exposure to the different mbiras we will be diving into during the workshop! - Musical Games (45 min)
Enjoy three fun musical games to explore the mbira and its sounds! Each game will help you learn more about the instrument while having a blast! - Wrap-Up (5 min)
Let’s talk about all the fun things we did today and share what we learned!
Primary School Children Workshop
Join us for a one-day, hour-and-a-half workshop exploring the Mbira (African Thumb Piano), a popular traditional instrument from southern Africa. This advanced workshop delves into its origins, highlighting various lamellophones from across the African continent and its diaspora. Young adults will have the opportunity to play different melodies on the mbira, with the goal of playing a song together. Participants will engage with one another, discover new cultures and instruments, and develop social skills and self expression while having fun!
This workshop will be led by Joseph Weinberg, a South African percussionist with a deep passion for the mbira.
Workshop Schedule:
- Ice Breaker & Meet and Greet (5 min)
Let’s get to know each other with fun warm-up games! - Today’s Activities (5 min)
Discover the exciting instruments we’ll be playing today! - Body Percussion (15 min)
Let’s make music with our bodies and learn some fun rhythms! - Musical Games (30 min)
Enjoy two fun musical games focused on the mbira to explore its sounds and have a blast! - Learn a Traditional Mbira Song (30 min)
Join in as we learn a lively traditional mbira song from Zimbabwe! - Wrap-Up (5 min)
Let’s share what we did today and talk about our favourite moments!
