School Year Off to a Strong Start for S’Cool Sounds in Kenya

A teacher leading a classroom of elementary students in recorder practice

Now in their 14th year, the S’Cool Sounds music programs in the Crossing Thresholds schools of Nairobi, Kenya are bigger than ever. Taught by local teachers with ongoing support from New York-based teaching artists as well as Artistic Director Nina Stern, the programs engage over 200 students in grades 4-8. Classes in music literacy and a number of different instruments are now offered in four schools:

The FAFU school program features recorders, keyboards, drum kits, and African ensemble.
At the MOBJAP school—the winner of the 2023 Kenya National Music Festival—students are taking part in recorder, keyboard, and drum kit lessons.
The Centre of Hope school program offers both recorders and keyboards.
New this year, the COPA school's recorder classes are taught by S’Cool Sounds alumni Erickson Maboko and Albert Odula.

For high school students in the Kibera neighborhood of Nairobi, the Futures Music Program has gotten underway this week! With five teachers leading classes three days per week, the program offers instruction in acoustic guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, drum kit, saxophone, and music literacy. With a two-month school break just starting in Kenya, this program provides a structured and inspiring learning opportunity to more than 40 students.

The SCS/CT programs entered this school year with a strong track record of success already in place. As previously reported, 65 students and ten teachers from FAFU and MOBJAP traveled to the 95th Kenya National Music Festival this past August. The FAFU band ranked 6th nationally among African-Western instrument ensembles. In the recorder ensemble category, the FAFU group came in 3rd, and MOBJAP took home first prize!

Because of SCS/CT’s consistent excellence at the Kenya National Music Festivals, the FAFU music team was recently invited to perform at the Nairobi county celebration of Mashujaa Day. Also known as “Heroes' Day,” this national holiday observed on October 20th honors those who contributed to Kenya's independence. The FAFU musicians brought great joy to this occasion, delivering a rousing performance on recorders, keyboards, and percussion.

After the performance, S’Cool Sounds Kenya Music Director Jacob Saya expressed enthusiasm for the future, saying, “as we continue, our enrollment soars higher which, of course, occasions the need for more instruments and instructors.” Exciting times, indeed!