September 10, 2009

Volume 4, Number 8

Kalimba Magic NEWS

• In This Issue
• Message from Mark: On Resilience
• What's the Buzz at Kalimba Magic?
• Kalimbas in the Classroom
• Interview with Carl Winters
• Getting Better EQ/DI by Marc Jutras
• How to Make Your Own Kalimba
• Hugh Tracey PREMIUM Kalimbas
• KTabS Notebook: Traditional Mbira in KTabS
• Instrument of the Month: G Amadinda
• Ask Mark: Got Buzzy Tine Syndrome?

Kalimbas in the Classroom

I have been in the educators' trenches myself lately, and I know how frustrating and rewarding teaching can be. Witnessing my own two sons growing into young men, I am thankful for good teachers who have imparted them with a thirst for knowledge, wisdom, caring, and love.

I also know that having a little magic wand, such as the kalimba, can help. The mother of a good friend of mine gave me this advise on parenting: "You don't have to confront them head on for every little conflict - a lot of the time, all you need to do is distract them a little." The kalimba is a great little distraction, in the home as well as in the classroom, and can totally refresh the environment, just as a magic wand might do.

The kalimba provides a great opportunity for lesson plans on African culture, musical instruction, and/or science, enabling a rich multi-level learning experience. Here are just a few ideas for how the kalimba can be used in the classroom:

• Pass the kalimba around the classroom and tell its history (classic Show & Tell).
• Project this presentation on the history of the kalimba in Africa on a screen in your classroom while you are passing the kalimba around.
• Learn and then play a traditional song on the African-tuned Karimba, which deploys an ancient African tuning.
• Tell a traditional African story such as Lion on the Path to your class.
• Offer instruction on our student karimba, which comes with a download with the basic parts of 9 different traditional karimba pieces, written out in tablature.
• Offer instruction on the 8-Note kalimba, which is a great beginner kalimba, is economical and has a lot of written material for use as teaching aids.
• Have you ever thought about making kalimbas with your class? Building kalimbas is a educational activity on so many levels, culturally, musically and scientifically. There is a very clear relationship between the tine length and the frequency of the vibrations. Learn more about making kalimbas in this article.
• The Cloud Nine Marimbula is a great instrument that anyone can use as a bass - just put green, red, and blue stickers on the 1, 4, and 5 notes in the key you want to play a song on your guitar in, and call out the colors as the chords change. I've used this with 6 year olds as well as 90 year olds, and everybody loves it!
• An advanced music group of middle school, high school or college students could work in the African American Spirituals book for the Alto Kalimba.
• The mbira, the predecessor of the current kalimba, was used for over a thousand years in ceremonies to help people connect with the spirits of their ancestors. This can be especially meaningful for African American students.
• I am available for consultation to help you turn your own ideas into lesson plans for sharing the magic of the kalimba with your class. And don't forget, for the month of September 2009, there is a 15% off sale on ALL Kalimba Magic products - just use the EarlyXmas coupon code when you check out.
• If you have developed lesson plans or presentations using the kalimba, we would be very interested in hearing about it!