April 2022 - Enriching School Culture By Making Music

In efforts to improve and impact student life at the Tumaini Schools, we have considered the ways in which some of our PBL courses can be expanded and accessed by the entire student body. The Music course, which started off focusing on different genres of music at the center of Tanzanian culture became one of the most popular and exciting courses.

For many years, students have been playing instruments and making songs from their days as young children at Tumaini Junior. Now at Tumaini Senior, they are seeking new ways to bring culture to the classroom. Mr. Zabron, Tumaini Senior’s Music teacher, envisions a curriculum that centers on traditional music from the tribes within Tanzania. He hopes the school will one day produce musicians and even offer Music as a formal subject at both the Ordinary and Advanced levels.

At present, we are working on procuring traditional instruments from across the country to be utilized for Tumaini Senior’s Music program. Mr. Zabron intends to conduct the PBL course as well as host practical sessions on weekends for students to review material and build techniques, all the while celebrating their culture. Some of the instruments include koras, marimbas, keyboards, acoustic guitars, whistles, and drums of varying sizes. Many of these instruments, if not found, will be custom-made. This will be an exciting endeavor for the students to see the handiwork of indigenous artisans. Stay tuned for updates!