Pokie’s Vision for Ntonga Music School

Ntyilo Ntyilo


In talking with Pokie about his vision for the Ntonga Music School, he started by telling me about how he got into music. He said he used to play sports but when he was in his late teens, he hurt his knee. He got into drugs awhile before he started playing music as a new form of expression. The violence within townships often leads males to join gangs. However, with sports, and then music, he was able to find his passion away from danger. He told me he is more fortunate than many within the townships and therefore feels it is his responsibility to create a school like this where children can use music and art as a form of expression taking them off the streets and offering an alternative to drugs, gangs and violence. This school provides an alternative setting for them to feel safe, get support and have fun. However, a vision requires the help of many.

Currently, he is in need of a security system, instruments, and teachers to make the school run smoothly. They cannot purchase instruments until they have a security system. He hopes the school will continue to strengthen an artistic community; becoming a place where food, and music and the arts foster a haven of security and creativity.

Reflecting on Ntonga

What I really value is that the school is a space open to the Gugulethu community. It IS a big family. Anyone can enter the school. When someone comes in , everyone just shakes their hand and enjoys their company. It is a community of support and understanding and that is what I love so much. I feel I can just sit in a space, offer the music that I love playing and soon the community gathers and appreciation is felt without words. It was a great atmosphere for experimenting.
I enjoyed bringing my music skills to children who don’t usually have lessons and instruments. Teaching kids in a township and watching them learn was truly a joy. Some learned really fast, others were a little slower. Some children were too small to hold the harp, but once the kids who were actually interested showed up, the experience was fantastic. Playing with each one, teaching them different sections and really supporting them in their process was a highlight of my experience. In teaching students within Gugulethu, I learned much about my own teaching style, adjusting it to respond to the needs and type of environment within the school. I learned to be clear, open, and honest with my students and from this established good relationships with both the students and Pokie.

Last Visit to Ntonga

Ntyilo Ntiylo recorded March 2009











Ntiylo Ntiylo recorded June 2009


My visit to Ntonga today was great. For the first hour I worked on teaching my two students the rest of Ntiylo Ntiylo. We worked on Nyilo Nyilo for awhile then Pokie joined us pushing each student to his limit, and singing, as well as speaking, to express his thoughts. I really enjoy teaching these two students because in the township and with Pokie, the kids are accustomed to being pushed. It was really awesome for me to practice being clear, honest and more forceful. I really enjoyed working with Pokie who encourages his students with “tough love.”

My favorite aspect of the morning was having Siv and his father, Sam, showed up. Their arrival was a delightful surprise. Siv with his trumpet, and his father, with his sax, jammed with us for the last time. Having everyone in the room together was like one big family!

I also got the wonderful opportunity to meet Mohammed who brought the two harps to South Africa and Asta who writes the blogs for Ntonga. The Ntonga Music School was alive and well on this day. Words fail to describe the energy radiating from this room.

The Third harp arrives!

Once we had three harps at the music school, the process of teaching became less challenging and more fun. I was able to teach from my harp and the two students learn on the new harps. While this teaching process has been very important and taught me much about the township and music, I sometimes forget that it is not that easy to teach students with no prior knowledge of the harp or any related instrument. One young boy, Sivuyile, is really good at learning the music by ear. At age fourteen his drive to learn is immense. Alternatively, Mazibuko, whom I would guess is about 17 or so, learns at a different pace. It often takes him several tries to get a bass line. Fortunately, he is strong willed and perseveres! What was especially rewarding was when Sivuyile learned all of Ntyilo Ntyilo and I was able to record him. He really makes the necessary connections in his mind. The other kids just watch and listen as I play.

Purchasing Harps for Ntonga

By the end of April, I had found two eager harp students and was teaching them basic chords to a favorite jazz piece Pokie had taught me. One day, upon arriving, I quickly asked Pokie if he could find the kids I had been teaching harp the prior week. Within ten minutes, I had four kids in the room. Both kids that knew portions of my favorite jazz piece, Ntiylo Ntiylo, were given the two harps. As I was teaching them, Sivuyile, who knew the chords, began teaching Mazibuko. It was great seeing him just take initiative and help his friend learn. As the kids learned from one another, they began playing the song as a duet. By relying on one another to learn the songs, the kids independently initiated the process of teaching and being reliant on themselves to learn. This is key in situations like these where I would be leaving in a matter of months. As the two kids played, a third kid began drumming. This steady beat helped the two kids playing harp, play together. Sivuyile who was a “quick study”, immediately decided to start learning the right hand. After showing him the basic melody, he began playing with the chords. Mazibuko, who was having a bit of a challenge, played the chords as Sivuyile played the melody. Then I had the drummer set the beat and the two kids play through the song together. This was absolutely AWESOME! The youngest kid who was simply observing became the photographer…which he took to extremes leading me to delete a large volume of pictures:-). Regardless, it was great teaching harp, drumming and a quick photography class all at the same time. After two hours, Pokie, on bass, and his friend on guitar returned. We played Ntiylo Ntiylo and then I taught them a Celtic Medley, “Star of the County Down,” and “Butterfly.” Our jam session ended with smiles and laughter as we all took solos and finished with the melody together.

Creating teaching goals:

My goal is to teach a few kids to play the harp and bring two small harps from the U.S. What has been most rewarding is the atmosphere at Ntonga Music School. The talent, joy, and spirit imbedded within the group I play with is awesome. As we improvise together, each musician enters into a realm of complete peace where melodies, rhythm, and creativity meld releasing tensions from the week. Our music wafts through the door and into the streets, intriguing street stragglers who peak in to get a taste of the melodies. I am so thankful to have found an outlet where I can play my instrument, learn from others, and share my harp music!

Amplifying my Harp

"You Think you know Me"

Following several jam sessions, Pokie advised me to purchase a pickup to avoid being drowned out by trumpet, saxophone and bass. I purchased a pickup and now have a voice amidst the flamboyant saxophone and trumpet. In the past weeks, we have recorded some fun slow jazz pieces as well as improvised together.

Harping at Ntonga Music School

March 7th

During my first visit to the Ntonga Music School, my small harp was met with curiosity and enthusiasm. When I played, young toddlers would enter the premises and meander through the school doors to listen to my music and observe the instrument as my fingers danced on the strings.

With the beautiful weather during my first few visits, many children came by the school. It was very rewarding witnessing these children enthralled in my harp music. Eyes wide open, smiles on their faces, they observed while standing or sitting by my side.

Ntiylo Ntiylo (performed by student Sivuyile).

Jamming with Pokie and fellow musicians at Ntonga Music School:

Celtic and Jazz Fusion: "Butterfly"

Celtic and Jazz Fusion: "Star of the County Down"



During my first few months at Ntonga, I spent my weekly visits playing harp, accompanied by Pokie, on his bass, Samuel Pono, on saxophone, and his son, Soyisile Wynton, on trumpet. These jam sessions acquainted me with the people and jazz of the township. Unlike my experience with musicians in America, organized or strict schedules were not constructed for rehearsals at Ntonga. Upon my arrival, the music room was usually filled with instruments, but no people. It took time to organize the musicians. On some occasions, I was left to wait 20-30 minutes for all the musicians to arrive before any notes or exchange of musical ideas took place.

Initially I did not appreciate this musical pace and lifestyle. Fortunately, I quickly found myself blending into the tempo 0f the township and music school using the waiting time to tune my harp, greet fellow community members passing by and warm up my fingers (especially when winter started creeping in).

Finding Ntonga Music School:

Having met Mike Gathercole who attended weekly church services in the Township of Gugulethu and runs a “life changing” travel agency based in Cape Town, 2-Way-Travel (http://www.2waytravel.com/), I inquired whether he would help me find the Ntonga Music School. On


February 28, after several wrong turns and a confusing hand written map constructed by myself

we succeeded! When we reached the address, I walked up to one man standing outside the building and asked him, “Is this the Ntonga Music School?” With a smile he replied, “Yes.” “Where might I find Pokie?” He smiled and replied, “That’s me.” We quickly started conversing. Since this first Sunday encounter, I have returned weekly for the past four months.

Background to working at Ntonga Music School:

Before leaving the U.S., I held a harp recital and received donations for Ntonga Music School. So I brought my harpsicle to Cape Town in hopes of teaching students at this school in the township. Within the first month after finding Ntonga Music School, Pokie Klaas, the head music instructor, asked if I could get more harpsicles to use in teaching kids here. I took the money from my recital and purchased two harps from Rees Harps Inc. in the states. Donations from the Multi-Cultural Music Fellowship, thanks to support from my harp teacher, Diana Stork, paid for two harp cases. The Playing for Change Foundation shipped them to me in Cape Town where I excitedly began teaching basic music and harp skills.

Teaching Opportunity

Hello, my name is Amelia Romano and I chose to study abroad at the University of Cape Town, Spring 2009. Raised in San Francisco, California, I have enjoyed performing in harp and other music ensembles throughout the Bay Area since 1999. I released my first solo harp CD in 2006, “Seeking Peace” and continue to enjoy playing multicultural repertoire to enrich my understanding of culture and inspire original compositions. I learned about the Playing for Change Foundation and the Ntonga Music School from the Bill Moyers interview with Mark Johnson. Living in Cape Town for nearly six months, I have been blessed with the opportunity to go to Gugulethu Township and work with youth of all ages at the Ntonga Music School, enriching my life and theirs through a musical exchange. For more on my music: www.myspace.com/ameliaromano