Music develops more than just minds, creativity, discipline, and art. Music builds and develops community. In the twentieth century, music among the indigenous peoples of Zimbabwe was simple. People made music informally, simply for enjoyment. British colonizers introduced music presented as live art near the end of the nineteenth century. But musicians from North America and Europe brought long lasting and growth causing impact through music. [1]

What followed was a powerful and fast moving development of not just music, but the community as well. The people of Zimbabwe began presenting music as live art in the 40’s and 50’s. Presentation in political rallies began in the 50’s and continued for three years. By 1959, the people established the first professional recording company, and in the 60’s and 70’s people were creating an entirely new music genre![2] Over generations, those educated in music developed into a new more thriving culture, a middle-class one.[3]

Music education is not just for the elite or the well off. But sadly, because instruments and world class music instruction often carries with it significant costs, those unable to afford it often simply go without. But is that what we want? And is that what is right? Only the middle class and upper middle class studying music? We aren’t making a political statement here, but a human one: a statement about music, and about people. We want to make music education available for everyone in the Greater Olympia area that wants it. Will you help?

[1]. Thomas Turino. Music as Social Life: the Politics of Participation (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008), 122.

[2]. Turino, 122-123.

[3]. Turino, 125.