Uganda - Educating through music: the band of Don Bosco School in Kampala

14 September 2016

(ANS - Kampala) - Nine years ago, the Salesians in the centre of Kampala, Uganda, started a new initiative teaching a small group of students to play the trumpet. It was so successful that the number of musicians and the number of instruments increased until soon they were able to form a school band, which give priority to the education of vulnerable children, providing for their social rehabilitation and preparing them for the future.

It all started when most of the children attending the primary school decided to enrol in a new musical project to learn to play the trumpet, more than 50 children! Initially the course was only on Sundays and lasted two hours. The kids liked it so much that by the end of the year they were able to take part in a concert along with other older and more experienced students.

As the students continued to make progress and their repertoire expanded, the band became increasingly skilled and other instruments were added. It currently consists of a series of trumpets, trombones, tubas, a French horn, flutes, clarinets, drums, bass drums, cymbals, and a saxophone.

Some of the children that were learning music liked it so much that they started to teach their companions the best way to play the trumpet.

Thanks to the Salesians the centre offers the band the instruments needed to help the children to discover and develop their talents. The band is made up exclusively of students of the school and occasionally gives concerts to demonstrate the progress of the students. This year there are some new vulnerable children and teachers of the centre are working hard to integrate them and help them to grow through music.

In addition, the progress of many of the band members allows them to learn other instruments, to increase opportunities for students of the school and to enhance the quality of the concerts, ensuring that the Don Bosco Music Band continues.

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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