From South Africa before Norway – blog by Mbalenhle and Boinelo.

NOREC Training Week….

 A new book has been opened; a new chapter being written and a journey that words alone can’t fully express… a new dawn of our newest and returning participants for PULSE. This journey begun as soon as we set foot in the beautiful and tranquil Indaba Hotel and met our long-lost fellow PULSE brother and sisters.

In this place we found more than just beautiful views and the mouth-watering delicacies of Chief Boma…if I could, I would brag more about the food all day but let’s not go there just yet; we found a place full of so many visible differences in people.  Some from various parts of Africa like Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania to others from various parts of Asia and Europe like Thailand and Norway and others from the west in the beautiful Brazil. When we all arrived there, we were met with a sense of separation until we started to engage with each other in activities conducted by Eirik where we all bridged the gap of seeing each other as different entities and began to understand each other little by little whilst also building our skills and mindset in preparation for our endeavours to our various destinations and work spaces.

We also visited Lebo’s Soweto where some of us really got the chance to be kids again and all of us got the opportunity to be ourselves and dive deeper into the roots of South Africa. This day ended on us visiting the Hector Peterson Memorial Site, where the atmosphere and feeling of all the pain the children who fought for educational justice was felt deeply as we all glanced at the infamous photo taken of Hector Petersons body being carried by his siblings.

One activity that really brought us closest together took place during a workshop we had there by one of our guest facilitators, Inga. She did one of the most difficult things and succeeded and that was to get a whole group of people to allow themselves to be vulnerable enough to speak about one of the deepest parts of themselves. Tears were shed and unity was spawned from them, because even though we entered the gates of Indaba hotel with a mind wondering of what differences we might encounter and a worry of how distant we might be, we exited with a sense of unity, and we learnt to see more similarities in everyone than differences.

And since we are people of music and various culture, no week is truly ended without a little concert. This was also one of the most beautiful moments because all the musicians from various parts of the world were able to come together and make music and everyone joined in dancing and that is when we all officially became one and later received our certificates. This wasn’t just a training week but an eye-opening experience that brought nations together on a deeper level.

Chords of Community (NMH)

It was a bright sunny week, with the birds singing a beautiful melody much like a South African tune. The Field Band Foundation received a visit from the Norges Musikkhøgskole Master students and Professors for the Chords of community exchange project. New faces with a familiar atmosphere to the organization.

The week was filled with joy and excitement as the different activities were done by the NMH students and the Tutor teams from Alexandra and Birchleigh Field Bands that really brought the energy up. The activities reflected more on simplicity and fun because there were fewer explanations but more practicality. It was evident that in the field band we belong and we must play on since the family that visited us played with us and the members at Con Amore school. The activities that the students and tutor teams did really show all of us that even though we all come from different backgrounds with different abilities and skillsets, we can all be part of the same thing and disregard all differences to make room for something beautiful.

Different ways/methods of teaching were explored and shared and both the tutor teams and students collaborated on implementing them during the rehearsals.

A beautiful moment was captured between the NMH students and one of the Con Amore members as they sang and played Norwegian tunes for the rest of the learners, and this member stood out with his djembe in hand and joined the students. Adding beautiful rhythms to spice up the atmosphere. That was the most beautiful part of the week because the members at con amore felt a sense of belonging through one child alone. One connection with multiple strings woven into it.

The week ended with a concert for the Con Amore members. The Field

Band’s National Band brought vibrant music and energy for the concert, while the tutor team with the Master students showcased “reviver” and “move on up”  that was arranged for the Alexandra and Birchleigh field band by the students

Thanks for reading, we hope you enjoyed.. keep in touch, more to come.