Marree Aboriginal School, S.A.
In between doing our youth holiday programs, we keep busy with specially commissioned school projects. Earlier this year, we were invited to come to Marree Aboriginal School, on the southern edge of the Oodnadatta Track, to write a song that would focus on the strengths of their community.
Historically, Marree has seen inter-community/family challenges that sometimes seeps into the school environs. We were honoured to not only offer a direct, hands-on, musical experience for all the students in the school, but to look at the community’s cultural assets as seen through the eyes of the youth and convey this in song.
We asked the teachers to work with their classes, prior to our arrival, in order to establish a foundation for the song. The kids were asked to think about their town, what makes them feel good about it, what brings a smile to their faces and what gets them excited. By the time we arrived, we were enthusiastically greeted with three pages of key words and impressions that best described all of the above.
Over at the youth shed, we were delighted to discover that the community had been given a bunch of new, still in-the-box, instruments, p.a. system, amps, mics and hardware. We swiftly unpacked these, set them up and put them into the hands of the kids. Everyone had a chance to play and learn on an instrument.
First, we came up with the rhythmic structure in the context of West African ensemble music, where everyone played djembes, dun-duns, shakers & bells. Over this, some of the kids played along on guitar, bass and keyboard. Once we established the groove, inspiration for the melody of the song emerged, and we were on our way!
In the week of our visit we made a recording and arranged to perform the song for the community at the end of the week. The band consisted of an ample african rhythm section lead by Shon, four female vocalists, Lee (a musical teacher) on time-keeping duty playing hi-hats and Svet on bass, keys and real marimba! It was like an orchestra, as all the kids from school were involved except for the wee young ones. Our song was titled, “Culture Keeps Us Strong”. The community came together to support their children, the tune was catchy and the whole journey was a success.
In continuation of the song project since our visit, Marree Aboriginal School have been making a book about the song to accompany a CD of the tune which they aim to publish and sell at the local shop. Thanks Marree, we had a great time, go forth and sing!
?