Jan. 17, 2011 Vol. 6, Num. 1

Kalimba Magic NEWS In This Issue From Mark: This Did Not Have to Happen What's the Buzz at Kalimba Magic Tour the Kalimba Magic Web Site Interview: Aaron Chavez Danny Boy: Free Tablature The KTabS Notebook: Tablature for Danny Boy Student Karimba: Book Reviews, New 9-Note Kalimba Music Therapy for Seniors New Thomas Bothe 2B/9B Kalimba w/Buzzers Kalimba Workshop at Hot Springs Jan. 28-30 How to Get a Kalimba Gig: 11 Musicians Share Upcoming Contest Deadlines Pushed Back

Kalimba Music Therapy for Seniors
by Kathryn Rambo, BC-MT

Kathryn Rambo, BC-M

From my music therapist friend, co-author of the The Pentatonic Kalimba Songbook, Kathryn Rambo:

Hi Mark,

Just wanted to tell you about a Kalimba Kristmas that we had at Three Oaks Circle (an independent living, low-income/HUD apartment for seniors). I have worked with these folks for several years now and they are a fun bunch - always open to trying something new.

I have been taking small drums, my 3 pentatonic kalimbas along with assorted softer percussion instruments and we have been having an "Organic Music Making" session once a month for some time now.

In October, one of the folks asked if they could learn a Christmas song and perhaps play it for the in-house Christmas Party that we have every December. So we started with "Go Tell It on the Mountain." I encouraged the group to have fun, to PLAY (vs. work at drudgingly). Over time they created an arrangement that went as follows:

• 3 people on kalimbas
• 2 people on sleigh bells
• 2 people on small Remo frame/paddle drums
• 2 people on tambourines

The form of the piece: A (melody played 3 times) B (improvisation on melody) A (return to melody and end piece)

The kalimbas started with the melody first. After 2 measures the drums came in with a simple ostinato beat (except for one lady who liked to add a bit of syncopation occasionally - nice touch). Next, the tambourines were layered in (shaken only) and, finally, the sleigh bells.

The kalimbas played the song through 3 times, followed by an improvisation on the melody. The "lead" kalimba player (Jim) then returned to the original melody - other 2 kalimba players joined in.

The piece concluded with the sleigh bells stopping, then the tambourines and then the drums stopping which left the kalimbas to finish with "Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born" part of the song as a "solo." They got a standing ovation from the rest of the residents.

They also did their version of "This Little Light of Mine" changing part of the lyrics to "This little light of Three Oaks, we're going to let it shine." That was a hit too! Nothing as elaborate as "Go Tell It" because the big challenge for them was singing AND playing at the same time - they added this song a couple of days before the party as well.

I am very proud of this bunch. They sounded great and the arrangement was completely a group process with group decisions. I had nothing to do with it. They truly played around with the music until it sounded the way they wanted.

Mark, thank you for doing what you do, which has made it possible for these seniors, who believed they did not have a musical bone in their bodies, to experience their innate Musical Selves!

—Kathryn Rambo, BC-M

Kathryn Rambo is a Board Certified Music Therapist and MT instructor in Wisconsin, and has been playing kalimba for two years and is using kalimba as a main instrument in her MT work. She is also co-author of The Pentatonic Kalimba Songbook, which has the music and tablature for both songs she used in this Christmas time music: "Go Tell it On The Mountain" and "This Little Light of Mine."