Music

Sisters in Sound Mentoring Project (SIS) - Western Cape

The project is managed by the South African Association for Jazz Education (SAJE); the overall objective of the project is to strengthen artistic creativity and purpose by building confidence and technical knowledge of primarily female musicians. This is done through mentorships, performances, and professional network development. A group of South African professional female musicians act as the main facilitating group of Mentors.

Other international female artists can join the group as part of its cross cultural development around common but culture specific social issues. Identified artists are from Tropical Africa, France, Scandinavia and USA. Two levels of protégés are involved: active musicians who may be recent music graduates, and school based learners planning to make a career in the music industry. While the focus is to empower female artists, this does not exclude male counterparts. Five mentorship workshops and meetings with project participants were held up to September 2010 with nine protégés.

These workshops empowered protégés to work in ensembles, write scripts, music charts and prepare for performances.

Ma-Afrika Cultural Organisation - North West

The organisation offers music tuition including Restoration of Ubuntu Music Project. This is a music literacy project for the youth and children from rural areas around Stinkwater, Hammanskraal. They are taught how to read and write music and take exams with UNISA and Royal Schools of Music.

The Restoration of Ubuntu project exists to increase opportunities for rural based and self taught musicians to teach folk music to the young people. It has become one of the most important development programme in rural communities, bringing together more than hundred young musicians and teaching artists as well as the elderly to participate in the development and promotion of old South African folk songs.

The Participants receive three hour private lessons, formal theory classes are offered on Saturdays and piano workshops conducted by Jazz pianist and recorded artist Norman Chauke. The project also offers vocal and ensemble training, breathing, intonation and pronunciation. Singing techniques for folk music are attended to at each workshop.

The Ma-Afrika cultural organisation prides itself on of one of its talented violinist Thapelo Lephoto, accompanying the CAFCA (Committed Artists for Cultural Advancement) on an invitation to attend the International Society of Bassists Convention in San Francisco from the 4th until the 20th June 2011.