From the museum to the music classroom: teaching the umrhubhe as an ensemble instrument

Abstract

While there is a keen interest in indigenous African instrumental music among South African university music students, indigenous music instruments such as the umrhubhe (musical bow without a calabash resonator) have not found their way into the classroom. Most music departments focus on the teaching and learning of western instruments for instruction. The purpose of the article is to discuss the construction, performance and pedagogy of the umrhubhe. The study also introduces the umrhubhe as an ensemble instrument at primary and tertiary levels of education and demonstrates the techniques of teaching the instrument, focusing on its origins, distribution, craftsmanship, handling, bowing, sound-production, resonating and whistling. A song and dance in which the umrhubhe plays a prominent role is used for illustration. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the implications of teaching the umrhubhe in South African music education.