Ghost In The Machine
Glencairn
Secret Safari
Off The Charts
The Drift Estate
By WP Van Zyl
An update on The Headstart Trust
Music lessons: the primary aim of our community involvement
Music lessons continue to flourish at Protea Primary School in Napier, and at De Bron Primary School in Stanford.
The music curricular philosophy that The HeadStart Trust follows is a student-centered philosophy and is based on meeting the student at their interest level. The pupils are thus encouraged to pursue the aspect of music that attracts them to the subject, and as their enthusiasm expands, progressive components of music teaching are incorporated.
This approach was role-modelled by Elspeth Jack who applied it to her range of students and is loosely referred to as the ‘ripple-effect’.
Frequent followers of The HeadStart Trust will recall how we started the year with auditions for pupils interested in music. Music lesson allocations has remained a challenge since the Covid pandemic, when music lessons were shifted from during school hours to an afternoon extra-curricular option, and subsequently competes with sports activities.
Here credit is due to the committed HeadStart music teachers, who continue to display remarkable resilience and resourcefulness in staying relevant and inspirational in rural underserved communities.
Keeping the ‘ripple-effect’ in mind, these teachers have progressed since the start of the year from holding auditions, to establishing groups and forming cohesive bands. This progress is measurable by witnessing the holistic growth from a practical tune-based foundation to the incorporation of music theory.
Music growth in the Overberg region
During July each year the world celebrates Nelson Mandela’s birthday. One of his classic quotes was: It always seems impossible until it’s done. This resonates with the journey that The HeadStart Trust has pursued in the Cape Agulhas region despite the recent global pandemic and the devastating effects left by its wake including the closure of music development organisations in the region.
One positive growth indicator for music upliftment has been the planned extension of the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre into Bredasdorp. Based in Parow, Cape Town, this Western Cape Education Department Music Centre (WCED) has a strong music education heritage and reputation. The Principal, Dr Arisa Voges (who owns a property in Struisbaai), has reached out to The HeadStart Trust to explore how we can collaborate in order to make music education effective and efficient across the large region.
A second positive growth indicator for music development has been a Choral and Organ music concert by French and German composers of the Romantic Era in the Napier Dutch Reformed Church. Called Vierne Missa Solemnis, the concert was a sold-out event, and it was a remarkable experience to witness the large church with a packed audience. The performance by the regional akKOORd choir was emotionally evocative, especially since this choir itself stood on the brink of disintegration during the pandemic years.
Past HeadStart Trust music teacher Alida Wood was an active participant in the sound management, and another HeadStart friend from Bredasdorp, Zoon Jacobs, did much of the practical arrangements.
African connection
Whilst The HeadStart Trust has an influence at the southern tip of Africa at present; our heritage stretches back and covers various areas of Africa where Elspeth Jack, whose dream it was to use music as a means of community upliftment, and her Mother, Elsie Fraser Munn, labored tirelessly to promote music education. The letter below indicates how precious these efforts were appreciated.
Remarkably The HeadStart Trust is still fortunate to have music teachers who are driven by that same passion to impart a love of music to those under their tutelage, as was displayed by their recent expedition to Zimbabwe. The desire to share music across Africa remains strong!
Exploring new possibilities
HeadStart held a fact-finding meeting with the Headmaster of the Fisherhaven Academy in the Overberg district today.
This school has received significant media coverage, especially because it was constructed in only 71 days, and it has since become a model project for the Western Cape Department of Education.
This contact was the idea of our wonderful musicians, whose belief in the power of music was resonated by the Headmaster, Mr Cupido, who is eager to get a music program going.
Our next task is to formulate a proposal and budget in order to consider viability. In the picture (left) is Mr Cupido, Mrs Vuyokazi Spengane the deputy Headmistress, and Christien Conradie, HeadStart musician based in Fisherhaven.
Keeping an open-door policy with the regulatory authorities
Because of our focus on community involvement and upliftment, The HeadStart Trust has always maintained a close collaborative relationship with regulatory authorities, and especially so with the Department of Education, who monitors the schools where we teach music lessons. HeadStart recently caught up with Mr. Salie Abrahams, who is the Deputy Director-General of Education Planning in the Western Cape. Mr. Abrahams explained that their portfolio has expanded, and now includes foundation phase learners (age 5 – 7 years). Previously, these pupils fell under the Department of Social Development. The impact is that the Department of Education must now look after these pupils, which includes feeding programs and monitoring school attendance. Mr. Abrahams remains ever-alert to implement educational programs that gives children a reason, beyond academics, to go to school.
Mr. Abrahams’ LinkedIn profile has a powerful quote by the American business executive, Richard M. Kovacevich: A vision and strategy aren’t enough. The long-term key to success is execution. Each day. Every day.
Political stability amidst much change
As part of our collaboration with regulatory authorities, The HeadStart Trust have also retained good relationships with political leaders in the Cape Agulhas Municipality.
The recent national elections in South Africa also made an impact on this region. A dear HeadStart friend, Mr. Paul Swart, was relieved of his mayorship after a controversial vote of no-confidence. Fortunately, he was replaced by Mr. Raymond Ross, who after performing duties as the acting-Mayor, has since been elected in that position. The HeadStart Trust enjoys a long working relationship with Mr. Ross, and he has been supportive and appreciative of the music program.
Mr. Swart has since been appointed as a Permanent Delegate of the Western Cape Province to the National Council of Provinces at the National Parliament in Cape Town.
HeadStart musician tours internationally
Adrian Fowler recently toured across Germany, Switzerland and Spain with singer and song-writer Sean Koch. HeadStart is so fortunate to have musicians with such remarkable experience of Europe who still offer their wisdom, insight and love of music to underserved communities at the southern tip of Africa.
Besides building international experience, Adrian has always maintained the dream of bringing those overseas artists to the Overberg region and allowing them the opportunity to share their passion for music with the HeadStart students.
A concluding Thank You
The final act of this version of A Pleasant Note belongs to you, the supporter of this music program. Thank you for supporting The HeadStart Trust. Thank you to everyone for your generous financial donations – our local and international supporters. Thank you to those who facilitate our fundraising platforms. Thank you to musical instrument donors. Thank you to the Trustees for their guidance, to the staff associated with The HeadStart Trust, and to the incredible music teachers for their tangible time, energy and dedicated work that they poured into the program. Thank you to the school leaders, teachers and regulatory authorities who allow music to be performed at their schools.
If ever you find a moment to be quiet and reflect, know that your presence on this platform is making a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of communities who whilst being underserved, has the opportunity and joy to express themselves through the magic of music.
