The uptake of chromatic marimbas by learning institutions in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The Zimbabwe marimba has become a popular school musical instrument since it was designed at Kwanongoma College of Music in the early 1960s. Two types of marimbas played in Zimbabwe are diatonic and chromatic marimbas. Most of the scholars who researched the Zimbabwe marimba focused more on diatonic marimbas, and this study draws attention to the adoption of chromatic marimbas in learning institutions in Zimbabwe. The purpose of this article was to examine the uptake of chromatic marimbas in primary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities in Zimbabwe. This study explores the advantages marimba players get when performing on chromatic marimbas, while highlighting the limitations of diatonic marimbas. The researchers used qualitative research methods to carry out this study, targeting learning institutions that offer music as a subject and marimbas as part of their practical performance curriculum. Interviews, document analysis, and participant observation were used as the data collection methods. Findings study show that the uptake of chromatic marimbas in Zimbabwean learning institutions is still very low, with most music departments still using the diatonic marimba sets. The researchers advocate that tertiary institutions equip trainee teachers and music specialist students with knowledge and skills to play chromatic marimbas, as this will enable them to disseminate these skills to their students after training. Chromatic marimba builders are encouraged to promote their sets by offering them to learning institutions at affordable prices for small profit margins that wield potential to attract more patronage.