Appendix 6 - International Music Council

What does one do when 40 to 50 learners come streaming into the
classroom for a possible chance of having a lesson that afternoon, while
others are already practising under the trees? This is the average number
of learners who attend the recorder classes daily.
At first I tried to schedule lessons according to a timetable, but soon found
that it was impossible to follow. The young learners do not have any
concept of time. However, a few of the senior learners do have watches and
manage to arrive at a specified time for their lessons.
My next attempt was to teach them in groups. Although it seemed to be the
answer, the fast-learners were soon bored. The other problem was that
learners still kept arriving in their own time, for various reasons, and
therefore an 18 year old would sometimes attend a group lesson with much
younger learners.
I desperately needed some assistance to create order and structure in my
classes. I approached some of my advanced music students from the more
privileged areas and they willingly agreed to assist me. They are enjoying
this challenge and some of them are now working once a week on a regular
basis to lighten the workload.
Fortunately we have even come to the stage where the more advanced
Mamelodi learners can assist with teaching the less advanced. Currently I
work with a day-by-day timetable where learners choose a lesson time as
they arrive.
Instruments
Another challenge has been to obtain recorders, since the GDE did not
provide any. Instruments were donated, but we are still in need of many
more. At least some learners are now able to take recorders home to
practise while others still need to share instruments. To keep it hygienic,
we have to wash the recorders after use. The wear and tear on the
instruments is extremely high, and therefore it is part of the educational
process to teach the learners to respect their instruments.
Kgotatso and Busisiwe took up the challenge to play the Music
Performance examination in September 2005. They only started in July
2004, but with all their diligence and enthusiasm they have managed to
advance, in one year, to Grade V level.
PIANO, VOICE TRAINING, TRUMPET AND CHOIR (GRAHAM DIESEL)
Piano
520