Zimbabwe College of Music, Harare.

Zimbabwe College of music is one of the main institutions for music education in Harare. In collaboration with the African University and the Zimbabwe University, the college offer NCM (National Certificate of Music) and Bachelor degrees. 

The class we currently teach are in their 4th. and last semester of their Bachelor degree in Ethnomusicology, where 5 of the 19 studens are specializing in Jazz. It is a wonderful group of people we are working with, truly positive and open people, who give us a lot of inspiration as teachers.

The subjects we are currently teaching, are World music, Western and African composition, Advanced Aural Training and Choral and Instrumental studies. Me and my colleague Tor Åge have split the lessons between us, so I am now teaching Aural Training and western Composition. I have also started a Choir and  Vocal improvisation skills groups for both the NCM and the Ethnomusicology students.

We have also had the fortune of getting instrume lessons in the Zimbabwean Mbira (thumb piano) and Marimba. These instruments are beautiful sounding and it is interesting to gain a larger understanding of how these instruments sound and function, also in terms of composing music for and with them.

The Mannenberg is one of the venues in Harare where one can hear and play live music, mainly jazz, but also traditional, funk, and other genres. Opposite the Mannenberg one can find the Book Cafe, another venue for live music and hanging out. The Book cafe mainly hosts traditional Mbira music, Reggae and other African music.