Who We Are

Professional, Graduated Musicians & Educators

We are professional, graduated musicians and educators who work in the underprivileged communities of the Overberg to achieve our vision of a more equal society, giving each child an opportunity!

Facilitators from the Community

Facilitators from our communities provide support organizing and teaching recorder, piano and cello classes.

Community Volunteers

Volunteers from our communities (some who do music themselves) support the project by donations, providing transport, “adopt a child” / supporting a specific child, etc.

Training

The ongoing development of skills and of the whole person of learners as well as the staff is a core value. We want to be agents of change on all levels for the communities which we serve. Not only do we provide ongoing teaching for the learners, but we also provide workshop-training on different levels for the communities in the Overberg and further afield. This provides ample opportunities for the in service training of our staff as well. Our permanent staff are enrolled for further formal qualifications.

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What we do

1. Handevat Music introduces our young people to the joy of making music and making music together! They start with instruments like recorder, marimbas and singing. In time the learners move to orchestral instruments like strings (violin and cello), woodwind (flute, clarinet & saxophone) and brass (trumpet, trombone and euphonium), as well as piano and guitar. They also have the opportunity to learn music skills (theory).

2. Through participation in music activities we aim to develop kids holistically. We want to contribute to a higher sense of self worth and purpose, new and enhanced abilities, and better scholastic skills – through the discipline, concentration, coordination and commitment that music making requires and teaches.

3. Developing their capabilities opens new possibilities for the young people. This broadens the horizons of children who through limited resources have few recreational, creative and career options.

4. We meet with the parents at least quarterly to develop relationships, to share our vision, and by involving them in their children’s activities we aim to support parenting skills. Our aim is for the parents to be not only actively supportive of the musical training of their children but also involved in the development of those abilities which the musical training stimulates (e.g. discipline, concentration, commitment, co-operation, co-ordination, responsibility, respect for each other and each other’s abilities, etc).

5. Handevat Music reaches out to communities through community workshops, concerts and the newly formed Overberg Orchestra.

6.The close contact that musical training implies creates opportunities to educate children about themselves, self image, health, dental care, etc.

7. The Handevat Project seeks to provide financial support as needed: for instruments, lesson fees, school, hostel and other fees as well as dental care (this is especially important for those wind instruments that require a specific embouchure – as the clinics only extract teeth!).

Our mission to bring the different cultural communities of the Overberg area closer is accomplished by being and working together in classes, ensembles, music concerts and audiences. The joy of music and music making creates an atmosphere wherein new relationships, friendships and opportunities for co-operation are born. Music transcends cultural barriers and provides a unique way for people of different cultures to share a common enjoyment. Organizing the events also creates opportunities to co-operate in achieving common goals.

How we do it

We recognise the importance of connecting with the natural abilities and understanding (foreknowledge of music) already present in our learners. We understand the importance of building thereon the concepts and symbolism necessary for being “musically literate” (required for example in classical music training).

In this process musical activities like singing, body percussion and marimba playing are useful  to develop these innate abilities and understandings. These music making  activities have no or few technical barriers for use by novices.

Marimba playing especially can be valuable for reasons like the following:

1.  It supports and enhances traditional music teaching by introducing and familiarizing all the basic practical and theoretical music concepts. This accelerates music learning and understanding!

  1.  Marimba playing is a tool to practice the art of music making and performing in a fun way! This cannot be over-emphasised: the pure joy of making music together is opened up to learners from a very early stage. Young children learn the “international language” of music .
  2.  Marimbas are especially useful to develop and promote advanced ensemble playing:  More difficult and mature ensemble work is accessible to the young musicians. This would mostly not be possible on their classical instruments at the same stage.  
  3. Marimba bands can be used as instruments for fundraising for the music project.
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