by James Collins
I’ve been on the road now for almost three weeks and it has been a truly amazing experience. From the gnarled baobab trees of Musina on the Zimbabwean border, to the diamond mines of Kimberley in the heartland and the towering cliffs of Cape Town on the Atlantic coast, I’ve managed to cover quite a bit of ground. I’ve seen more than a few breathtaking sights and I’ve met some wonderful new friends along the way. Working with the field bands in their communities has been a very special experience and my appreciation and understanding of this country are constantly growing. But, by far the most important thing I’ve gained from this journey has been a love for teaching.
After nearly two decades of being a student, it has been extremely gratifying to find myself on the other side of the class. I’ve given almost twenty drum lessons by now, mostly to groups of about ten kids, and with each session I learn something new. I try to encourage my students while also helping them to improve their technique. It is really special to see them smile and to look at the determination on their faces as they work on something I’ve taught them. When they figure out a difficult passage or expand on something with one of their own creations, I am positively thrilled.
I’ve gotten used to teaching big kids and small kids, experienced players and newcomers, and I try to adjust my lessons to each group. As long as I can challenge them while ensuring that they have fun, I am satisfied. I generally work on basic techniques at the beginning of the lesson and build towards a more difficult group exercise that requires some thinking. I also try to do individual sessions with the drum tutors or anyone who wants to learn more. I love knowing that the children in the field band are there because they want to be there and I haven’t found a single kid yet who wasn’t eager to learn.
As a bonus to my teaching, I’m finding that my own playing is improving as well. My interest in drumming, which had faded a bit while I was at Harvard, is being rekindled and I’m finding myself practicing things I haven’t even thought about in years. This proves to me that teaching is one of the best ways of learning.
This is a video of the drummers from Kimberley, who were particularly sharp. I came up with the solo they’re playing the night before the lesson and they managed to pick it up in just one session despite more than a few difficult rhythms. I was flattered when they told me at the end that they’d like to use it as their new drum feature for performances. Thank you to Leroy, one of the drummers, who manned the camera for me…though I apologize for the abrupt cut at the end!
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The views and information presented are the Fulbright grantee’s own and do not represent the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.
