Fabulous First Day

Waking to sunny skies and a view of Table Mountain signals the beginning of a great day.

First I visited the University of Cape Town Campus where I studied spring 2009. This was preceded by running into local South and southern African friends made during my studies. These events confirmed the realness of my return.

A visit to Green Market Square, in Cape Towns city center in the afternoon, was an awesome adventure. Similar to my memory, it was packed with African artists from acroos the continent selling goods from rock carvings to paintings and musical instruments. After meandering like a typical tourists (getting bribes right and left) I spotted a man in his mid thirties playing Djembe (the West African Drum). To my excitement he happily embraced the opportunity to teach a foreign musician basic rhythms and obliged me in a 30 minute (music lesson). Upon detailing the purpose of my time in Cape Town we exchanged contact information and he offered to come to Ntonga Music School and teach Djembe on occasion. A Senegalese Native with a passion and knowledge for West African Music, I was filled with excitement finding yet another music connection and possibility for music collaboration.

My eventful day finished in a meeting with Jason and his girlfriend Caroline. Jason is a member of the Playing for Change Foundation Band and Caroline does weekly visits to the Ntonga Music School. She gave me an update on the school sharing her thoughts and concerns and allowing me to share my vision for the school. All the while keeping in mind my role is to act as a guiding force at the school. At the end of the day understanding and supporting what the Ntonga School Board wants, is my highest priority.

To return to PFCF main page click bellow:
www.playingforchange.org

The City Press was there!

Article in the City Press New jazz school may foster many more maestros

Opening! Saturday 20th February

Opening of the School tomorrow 20th February!

Open House

Various jazz bands from Gugulethu will be playing from 12 - 18

All welcome!

And... special guests from Playing For Change - the organization that is making it all happen together with Pokie Klaas and the many more music enthusiasts of Gugulethu!

Directions here: http://ntonga.blogspot.com/2009/08/directions-to-school.html

Jazz Impressions playing at Ntonga Music School

**by Mark Jackson from JacksonFilmSA - Thanks Mark!

Gig on Sunday, 30th August, at Ntonga!

Spring is in the air and time to get together!

Jazz Impressions
NY27 no 37 Gugulethu
30th August, from 2pm

Jazz Impressions on Youtube

Directions to the School

Address NY 27 no 37

Take N2 out from city in the direction of the Airport. Drive past Langa as well as the N7 off ramp.
The next off ramp is signposted M10 Belville/Gugulethu.
Take this off ramp and keep right. At the robots, turn right so that you now pass over the N2.
Drive 1km along Modderdam/Duinfontein Road till you get to a big intersection / Robots with the Mannenberg SAPS building. Turn left into Klipfontein Road, go over the bridge and take the first right at the Robots. (there is a petrol station on your left). Drive along this Road (NY1) and then turn left immediately after passing the soccer fields. The soccer fields will now be on your left again. At the small circle, turn right passing the massive JL Swane Church. Just after the church turn Right and this is the road Ntonga is in!