Learning to play the recorder has been part of Kenya’s music curriculum since 2019. Yet many teachers have faced a basic challenge: how can they teach an instrument their schools do not have?

A new partnership with Recorders without Borders is helping close that gap. The organization donated more than 1,400 recorders for teachers and learners across 21 Kenya Connect partner schools. It also provided training and resources to help teachers make recorder instruction part of classroom learning.

Recorders without Borders founder Lynn Brooks traveled to Wamunyu with Samantha Salazar, a music teacher from Austin, Texas. Samantha led a hands-on workshop for about 35 teachers, many of whom had little or no experience playing the recorder.

The workshop began with the fundamentals. Teachers practiced controlling their breath by blowing on a feather. They learned how to hold the recorder, produce a clear sound, read basic music notation, and play notes together.

Before long, the room was filled with teachers playing “Hot Cross Buns.”

Cyrus Wambua, Kenya Connect’s In-School Coordinator, joined the workshop as a learner. In our latest Voices from Our Village podcast, he described the training as an enriching experience that gave him a deeper appreciation for both music theory and practice.

“I can confidently say that I left the session feeling more confident, more skilled, and more inspired to continue learning,” Cyrus shared.

From the Workshop to the Classroom

The training did not end when the workshop concluded. Lynn and Samantha also visited partner-school classrooms, where learners had their own opportunity to pick up the instruments and begin playing.

These classroom visits gave teachers a chance to put what they had learned into practice. Learners worked on producing their first notes and playing together, while Samantha offered guidance and encouragement.

The recorder is an accessible first instrument because beginners can start making music relatively quickly. Samantha saw that happen during the teacher workshop as separate skills began coming together.

“The wonderful thing about recorder is that it’s one of those instruments you can pick up really quickly and gain the confidence to go after other instruments,” she explained in the podcast.

For learners who have never had access to an instrument, that first note can open the door to a new form of expression. Music education also calls for patience and persistence because the instrument gives immediate feedback. Learners can hear when a note is clear and when they need to adjust their breath or finger placement.

Resources Teachers Can Keep Using

Recorders without Borders designed the program to continue after the in-person visit. Teachers received guidebooks and access to training videos they can revisit as they practice and plan lessons.

The organization’s Kenyan Recorder Competence-based Curriculum Companion was created specifically to support recorder education in Kenyan schools. Its materials help educators learn independently and then pass those skills on to their students.

Samantha’s message to teachers is simple: “Don’t be afraid to research for yourself, to use these resources, and to know that it’s something you can do. You can teach recorder.”

There was also a special Kenya Connect contribution to the training. Each instrument distributed during the workshop came in a fabric cover sewn by our LitMoms. Their work connected a parent livelihood program with a new learning opportunity for teachers and students.

The instruments have now arrived. Teachers have begun building their skills. Learners are discovering what it feels like to make music together.

As the podcast closes, “Let the music play, let the learning continue, and let every child find their voice.”

Listen to the Conversation

Our latest Voices from Our Village episode features Lynn Brooks, Samantha Salazar, Lindsay Kincaid, and Cyrus Wambua discussing the workshop, the value of music education, and their hopes for recorder instruction in Wamunyu. You will also hear some recorder music along the way.

Check out our Voices from Our Village Podcast – Season 3, Episode 6