MARIMBA MUSIC

25 Reasons why every South African child

needs to learn to play the Marimba

• No prior knowledge or musical experience is needed.
• Teachers/Facilitators can be trained within a relatively few     hours and learners are able to play a piece of music in their     very first lesson.
• Players can advance from beginners to fantastic performers     within a short space of time.
• Concentration skills are greatly enhanced and worked upon     when playing marimbas.
• Self-confidence and self-esteem are greatly boosted as there     is a part for every child to play, regardless of ability.
• Playing music together is a team effort! Each and every team     member is equally important.
• Because of the recommended technique of playing marimbas:     hand to hand/alternating hands - both sides of the brain are     being exercised equally. This does not happen in many other     activities.
• Because it is recommended that hands are alternated all the     time, crossing of the midline becomes second nature.
• Listening skills are greatly enhanced when playing marimbas:     players need to play absolutely together to create a piece of     music.
• Through various games and exercises learners’ aural training     skills may be developed.
• The science of sound production can be demonstrated and     studied through the marimba.
• Through singing and spelling games on the marimba, language     skills and spelling is improved.
• It is a known fact that maths and music are inter-related.     Marimba music is strongly based on patterning, as is maths. It     goes without saying that the one helps and reinforces the     other.
• There are lovely maths games that can be combined with     marimbas to encourage and enhance maths learning.

• The bars on the marimba are fairly wide so learners with poor     fine-motor coordination are still able to play with ease.
• Physically and mentally challenged learners can play     marimbas and be part of a marimba band.
• Fine and gross-motor coordination are constantly being     worked on when learners are playing marimbas.
• Learners who do not have dexterity in their fingers for     whatever reason often find it difficult , if not impossible to play     a melodic musical instrument. The marimba offers these     learners the opportunity to play a melodic instrument.
• The memory is developed through lots of repetition.
• The nature of the music for marimbas is such that there are     very easy parts and then there are parts that are graded     according to abilities.
• By using dummy keyboards in the classroom every learner is     focused on playing at the same time. This alleviates discipline     problems.
• With imagination, patience and a sense of fun the music     classroom is transformed into a magical soundscape.
• All genres of music can be played on marimbas.
• The marimba is a robust, low maintenance and portable     instrument that does not need electricity to operate!
• The instruments sell themselves in the classroom and     EVERYONE wants to play!