Marimba magic rises again
Young artist looks up old friends
ABEACON Bay resident has turned her spacious entertainment area into a jam space for a marimba band and her upmarket home reverberates with the joyous sound of music twice a week.
In the process Lynda Gower and her music student son Robin, 21, have given five Mdantsane teens the chance to re-ignite their passion for the marimba.
When Robin decided to start a marimba band, he knew exactly where to source talent.
“I knew that Aqua Vista Primary school’s marimba band was very good and did well in eisteddfods, and I knew there were girls who were now in high school and who had once played marimbas,” said Robin, who fell in love with the percussion instrument while at Merrifield.
The young musos were tracked down at their high schools, and leapt at the chance to resurrect the marimba magic.
“The last time they played marimbas was when they were in Grade 7 and now they are in Grades 10 and 11,” said Gower, who makes it easier for the Mdantsane teens to get to bi-weekly practices at her home by collecting them from school and driving them to their taxis afterwards.
“When I was asked to join I was excited and said yes straight away,” said Othembela Mbombo, 17, a Stirling High pupil whose love affair with the marimba began when she was nine.
She was at Aqua Vista primary when she first encountered a xylophone, which she played in the marimba band until Grade 7.
“Playing the marimba makes me happy. It is so joyful. I missed playing when I went to high school, but even after not playing for three years we are not rusty.
“It's in our blood. And it's so nice to play with the girls again.”
Gower sponsored the band's black hoodies with its name – Walk of the Beat – emblazoned on the front. She has also raised funds for their airfares to Johannesburg next Friday, when they compete in the International Marimba and Steelpan Competition in Bedfordview.
The Daily Dispatch enjoyed a spirited jam session at the Gower's – also attended by mascot Mr Potato the lion teddy and Snowy the cockatoo, who interjected with exuberant whistles.
“I thought I would never play marimba again. It's such fun and Robin is a good coach. He is very chilled and has taught us to play with three mallets at a time,” said Stirling High pupil Anelisa Ramza, 16, who travelled to Vienna with her school band.
“We used to play mainly African music, but now we also play contemporary and classical.”
Robin, who want to be a composer in the movie and gaming industry, said the girls brought energy and happiness to their playing. —