Ntonga's Playing For Change Music & Art School

First week at Ntonga Music School

2010-07-31T11:06:00.000-07:00

My return to the Ntonga Music School has marked a week of opportunities, musical moments and challenging moments. As most remember, I studied at the University of Cape Town last spring volunteering at the Ntonga Music School every Sunday morning. This experience inspired my thesis in which I researched the Legacy of Apartheid in South Africa, with a focus on the Cape Flats, (the region where this school is located).

Returning to the Ntonga Music School has been a true joy. Having taught two teenage boys to play harp every Sunday in spring 2009, I had hoped to return to the school following my gradutation from UC Berkeley. The Playing for Change Foundation gave me this opportunity.

My current job includes doing outreach for the school, looking to create a creative structure at the school, teaching harp to eager students, and supporting the school in making their musical vision a reality. However, this vision does not come without challenges.

Having visited the school weekly last spring, being at the school seven hours a day, Monday-Friday offers a completely different perspective on township life. Upon departing at 5pm daily, I often find men and woman where they were when I arrived at 10am that morning. Unemployment is one explanation for this lifestyle.

Coming to Guguletu Township from a college lifestyle, is a 180 degree change in pace. I am accustomed to a fast pace life. When arriving at the school, Pokie, the school visionary, and director, is often listening to music and hanging out. This is something I am not used to. It is Cape Town time plus Cape Flats time. S-L-O-W.

With the World Cup and school just starting, most students dont arrive for lessons until 3pm. I arrive daily around 10am. Waiting for their arrival while busying myself with other tasks is totally worth it. When the children arrive, the faces of excitment and eagerness are fabulous. While there is much to be done in organizing lessons, kids are eager to learn harp, play drums, guitar, piano, trumpet and more. Most of the students embrass the instruments with focus, passion, and excitement.

While I am working to get morning classes in session, I currently teach a 16-year-old boy in the morning, harp. He left school last year but is very focused and hard working. He arrives promptly for his 11:30 lesson, demonstrating enthusiam at this opportunity to learn. Though kicked out of school he spends his days learning by listening to music recordings. The time he spends at the Ntonga Music School, gives him daily structure in his life.

He is an example of the postivie and empowering role music holds in the lives of youth.

While there are many things to address at the school, the potential is incredibly exciting.

More to come!

To return to PFCF main page or make a donation, click on the below link:
www.playingforchange.org

Fabulous First Day

2010-07-23T13:33:00.001-07:00

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!

2010-03-02T03:37:00.000-08:00

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

Opening! Saturday 20th February

2010-02-19T08:48:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-01T01:02:00.000-08:00

**by Mark Jackson from JacksonFilmSA - Thanks Mark!

Gig on Sunday, 30th August, at Ntonga!

2009-08-26T10:17:00.001-07:00

Spring is in the air and time to get together!

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

Jazz Impressions on Youtube

2009-08-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

Directions to the School

2009-08-26T10:06:00.000-07:00

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!

Teaching Opportunity

2009-07-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Amelia Romano and I chose to study abroad at the University of Cape Town, Spring 2009. Raised in San Francisco, California, I have enjoyed performing in harp and other music ensembles throughout the Bay Area since 1999. I released my first solo harp CD in 2006, “Seeking Peace” and continue to enjoy playing multicultural repertoire to enrich my understanding of culture and inspire original compositions. I learned about the Playing for Change Foundation and the Ntonga Music School from the Bill Moyers interview with Mark Johnson. Living in Cape Town for nearly six months, I have been blessed with the opportunity to go to Gugulethu Township and work with youth of all ages at the Ntonga Music School, enriching my life and theirs through a musical exchange.

If you would like to hear more, go to http://harpntonga.blogspot.com/

Informal teaching has started

2009-06-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

Every Sundy, informal teaching takes place at Ntongas. For now there are a few students doing the harp, the trumpet and drums.
More instruments will be coming soon and then formal teaching can start.

From Ntongas_InformalTeaching

Iki and Arki at Ntonga's

2009-06-14T11:03:00.000-07:00

Nicki and Mark, the authors of Iki and Arki's Amazing World of Music gave a full stack the book to Ntonga's students.
It's an exciting new book that teaches kids the basics of music theory.

Read more about the book here

The Magic of Music

2008-12-10T04:40:00.000-08:00

At This Time
This Moment
Another Gift of Life
Is Born.

Camagu Kuni
Nina Bazingomb’ isifuba
Thina Siyanibuka
Eli Liqhayoya Lokwenene
Kuluchulumanco Kuluvuyo
Sidomboz’ imibulelo
We can See The Light.

A 20 Year Old Dream
Coming To Life At Last
Liyinene Elithi
”No Matter Which Way
You Start It Is Always
Against The Wind”
Perseverance Is the Key
And For That We Are
Greatful.

For Most Africans
Life Is Not A Bed Of Roses
To Follow A Dream
Is Harder Than To Dream
We Sacrifice, We Lose
But Siyanyamezela
Singanikezeli.

Music is The Source Of Life
The Saxophone, Ikatara
Amagubu The Drums
What More Can I Say
Can It Ever Be Enough?
I Doubt.

Music Is Fun, Music Is Deep
Music Heals and Can Kill
A Medicine or a Poison
Music is Life.

Music Is Sweet, Deep in the Heart
And Rich in the Mind

Only One Can Talk At A Time
But All Can Sing At The Same Time
Thats The Magic of Music

It Is The Connection Of Thoughts
The Meeting Together Of Rhythms
Its the Language of the Spirits
If You’ve the Heart, Then You’ve The Beat.
The Heart Beat, Echo In The Veins
Blood Dancing To It
And The Soul Is Listening
Shi... Listen! What Do You Hear
The Heart Beat.
I Thank You.

Composed by Sithembile Xaso and performed together with Jazz Impressions at Ntonga's House Warming on the 7th December.

The House Warming

2008-12-08T00:16:00.000-08:00

It was truly a wonderful and promising day for everybody who cares for Ntonga's Playing for Change Music and Arts School.
Thank you all for what you did to make this day so special - we are looking forward to collaborate in the future!

Go to Ntonga's album for more photos

The building of the school

2008-12-03T22:51:00.000-08:00

Video from Playing For Change Foundation

How to get to Ntonga's?

2008-11-28T00:38:00.001-08:00

Address: NY27 no 37, gugulethu, Cape Town

Take the N2 out of town,
Take the Belleville/Gugulethu off lane
Turn right towards Gugulethu
At the first big robots turn left into Gugulethu
At the next robots turn right into NY1
Drive along NY1
After a big sport centre, make a left turn
Drive along the sports field until the round about, make a right turn at the roundabout
The next road to the right is NY27
Drive up to house number 37, it is peach-orange and there will be music coming from the back yard...

House Warming on the 7th December

2008-11-19T00:49:00.000-08:00

Sunday 7th December - 10am to 5pm
Workshops from 10am - Live performances from 2pm

Ntonga's Playing For Change Music and Arts School will open its doors for the local community and everybody interested in building up a place where music and arts can flourish in Gugulethu in the future.

Join us ~ jam with local bands, theatre and dance groups, paint the murals, build or plant a seed...

Ntonga's wish list:
recorders
drums
keyboards
black/white boards
mirrors
furniture
fabrics
sound electronics
locks/lockers
plants/deco
or anything musical...

Download the flyer:

Jazz impressions playing around town

2008-11-19T00:33:00.000-08:00

The background story

2008-11-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

Ntonga’s Background story

In 2006, Pokie Klaas met Mark Johnson from The Playing For change Foundation (US) and expressed his desire to set up a schol for township jazz. Pokie has already been running asuch school on an informal basis for around 15 years here on one of the roughest streets in gugulethu. Many outstanding building musicians have now passed through the doors including Sakhiwo Noboza who recently graduated from UCT in trumep and vocals, well known drummer Stix Mrwebi and saxophonist Calendar Mexico. Veteran musician Mafisto, already accomplished in hes field, learned to read and write music here.

It was always Pokie's long term ambition to establish a self-sustaining, permanent venue for the school – which could exist for years to come and which could bring huge benefit to the local community. Not only could such a school train young people in music, but it would also serve as a way of keeping them away from the temptations of crime and drugs.

Pokie imagined a school which would have several gifted and responsible local teachers, that was fully equipped with a range of instruments and in a safe and welcoming environment.

Now this dream is coming to fruition in the Ntonga's Playing for change Music and Arts School (NPCMAS).

Pokie telling the story

Pokie's house

Ntonga's - almost there!

2008-10-24T14:39:00.000-07:00