Marimba teaches vital life lessons

MBOMBELA – Music is not only a part of our culture; it is a lifeline for young and old during times of poverty, crime and neglect. It has been one of the foundations on which the very pillars of the beautiful rainbow nation were built.

At Mathews Phosa College it has evolved into a textbook from which one can learn. It boasts one of the pioneer marimba groups in the province and country.

Learners have participated in the eisteddfod since the college’s inception 20 years ago. This year, two groups took part and both earned prestige (A++) awards in the light-music instrumental category.

The college says it intends to develop individuals holistically, who will be emotionally, physically, mentally and intellectually equipped to serve as leaders in society.

Marimba is one of the tools used in the process of educating those future leaders. Music and maths are intertwined, and by understanding beat, rhythm and scales, pupils learn how to divide, create fractions and recognise patterns. It has been clinically proven that learners who are exposed to music perform better academically. Not only are they good at math, but they also know how to express themselves linguistically.

In order to play marimba well, one has to embrace elements of the cultures from which it stems. This teaches one to be tolerant of all human beings despite diversity in colour, language and origin. The dream of a completely tolerant rainbow nation will find roots in a generation of leaders who have learnt to see beyond the borders.

Playing marimba comes with responsibility. Maintenance and care are very important in keeping an instrument working. It is delicate and can easily get out of tune or chip since it is made of light wood and gourds that act as resonators. The ability to organise, manage and maintain is often the difference between an ordinary leader and a good one. They need to practice such skills in order for them to be effective. This is another lesson one can learn from the textbook of marimba.

As is evident in the pupils who participated in eisteddfod, it helps develop good self-esteem. Getting positive results from the judge helps these young musicians to realise how hard work and perseverance can assist to overcome challenges. With reward comes the desire to achieve more and to tackle more challenging issues. The result in the long run is a person who is prepared to face difficult situations head-on and who will work hard until those difficulties are resolved.

Apart from the more obvious lessons like teamwork, the development of social skills, boosting listening skills, self-discipline, confidence and exposure to cultural history, playing marimba is a simple and stress-free way of learning life’s most vital lessons. Whenever one comes across challenges, the end result and not the journey to the end, is what should be considered.

The goal of education is to empower the mind to survive competently in an ever-changing world.