20 May 2020
www.thevillagenews.co.za
Making music accessible to all T
obias Kotze, who has joined Enlighten Education Trust as coordinator of their music project, has produced an online music course that can be accessed by members of the community free of charge. “It’s a comprehensive introductory course for those who have not received any musical education and who would like to learn to read music. I compiled the course from academic material covered during my undergraduate years at Stellenbosch University and the content of the course is aimed at giving those interested in music the basic background that will enable them to study further and obtain a qualification through UNISA,” says Tobias. Born and bred in Hermanus, Tobias spent several years overseas before returning to his home town at the end of last year. After graduating with a B Mus degree from Stellenbosch University, he studied for his Licentiate LRSM from the London Royal Schools of Music, which he obtained at the end of 2013. The following year he was accepted by the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiano in Lugano, Switzerland, where he studied under the Swiss cellist Prof Mattia Zappa and obtained his Master’s Degree (Cum Laude). Tobias is very happy to be back home and says “Hermanus is as beautiful as always”. He is also very impressed with the work done by the Enlighten Education Trust. Their music project has eight music facilitators overseeing the music education of 187 students, with a further 40 on the waiting list. “Every skill mastered or success achieved by a learner is celebrated by us all.
Masks for all The Women's Fellowship of the United Church and many other ladies in and around Hermanus, and even as far as Stanford, are still actively busy with the making of protective cloth face masks.
The positive feedback we have received from principals, teachers and parents has provided overwhelming proof that Enlighten’s founding vision has borne fruit. We believe that it is vital to approach education on a ‘whole-child’ basis,” says Tobias.
“We have up to 30 ladies voluntarily making masks, with some having taken a break after three weeks and new volunteers joining the project,” says Denise Eady of the Women's Fellowship of the United Church.
The Enlighten Music Project includes group and individual lessons in violin, piano, voice, guitar, keyboard, marimba, steelpans and violoncello. “The lessons in music theory are based on the Associated Board of UNISA, so that the students receive an accredited qualification at the end of each academic year,” says Tobias. “At the moment, the focus is on online teaching of both practical and theory lessons. But with so many pupils on the waiting list, I thought the lockdown was the ideal time to develop a short online music course that could be accessed by the whole community.” The online music theory course comprises eight lessons with several sub-divisions. Small activities are also available for self-assessment. After studying this course, you should be able to: • understand the basic building blocks of musical theory and notation; • understand music theory to the level demanded by Grade 3 of the Associated Board of UNISA; and • understand music theory to a level required to move on to further education in the field of music theory.
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“We have passed the 3 000 mark already and have distributed more than 2 000 masks to various essential services, including various doctors’ rooms and departments at Hermanus Mediclinic, the Zwelihle Clinic, the Moffat Hall in Mount Pleasant, the Zwelihle Youth Café at the RDP Centre, Siyazama Service Centre, Hawston Clinic, Hermanus SAPS, Huis Lettie Theron, Just Care Aftercare, Yomelelani Pre-School in Zwelihle and the Hermanus Provincial Hospital. Tobias Kotze, who was appointed as Enlighten Education Trust’s Music Project Coordinator at the beginning of the year, has compiled a short online music theory course that is available, free of charge, for anyone who wants to learn music notation.
The course is available on the Enlighten Education Trust website and there is also a link on their Facebook page. – Hedda Mittner
ESSENTIAL SERVICES – WE ARE OPEN
“We will continue making masks indefinitely and any volunteers are welcome to join as and help with the sewing of masks.” Denise Eady can be contacted on 082 902 1245. Anyone who wishes to contribute towards the cost of the mask-making can deposit donations in the following bank account: United Church, Standard Bank, Account no. 082 26 25 27, Branch Code 050312 Reference ‘Masks’.
