Marimba New Zealand

Marimbas for New Zealand Schools

1036 Brighton Road,
Dunedin,
New Zealand
Ph: +64 3 4811963
Email: kwljb@clear.net.nz

The History of Our Marimbas

(Written by Len Buchanan - marimba builder)

The kind of marimba being used in the Bay of Plenty schools originated in Victoria, Australia. Andy Rigby, a harp builder and musician brought the idea back from Africa, and with his friend, Jon Madin, music teacher, they developed the designs you see in this website. It was important to them both that the marimbas could be built by the average handyman for as little as possible. The ones built in New Zealand by parents have cost about $180.

Andy Rigby, Jon Madin and students

Heather McLaughlin, another friend and a music teacher, brought the designs to New Zealand about 1994, and with the help of a local craftsman, John Crabtree, the first New Zealand marimba was built. This was used at Otumoetai School, Tauranga, for the school band.

Heather McLaughlin and Len Buchanan

Other schools became interested and workshops were held to demonstrate the techniques of teaching with marimbas. Workshops were held to help parents and teachers to build their own marimbas. Some schools preferred to get someone to build for them. At first cabinet makers were used. They agreed to charge $700 for an un-tuned marimba. They made a tidy instrument but $700 was not easy to find in music budgets so I offered to build them for $250. Many folk took up that offer and as the months went by more and more marimbas came into existence.

Neil Bruce, music advisor, became interested and he started to build them and workshop them around Hamilton and surrounding districts. Now Auckland, Hastings, Gisborne, Pukekoe, Ponsonby, Raglan, Morrinsville, Whangamata, have marimbas in one or more of their schools. There are many being used in Tauranga and more are being built.

Music Resources

Jon Madin has three books of exciting music for children and these are the ones that we use most.

Marimba Book 2. Book & CD

Walt Hampton from USA has two books of music with an African influence. Very toe tapping.

Using the Resources

It isn’t hard to get these tunes going on a marimba even if you can’t read music. Some teachers enlist the help of a musical parent to write the note names in the music. Then they play the CD’s to their class as background music to become familiar with the beat and rhythms. Other teachers play the CD’s at home as background music to become familiar with the music. If you can read music, well, it is easier.

The Reactions of Children

Children have come eagerly to marimbas, rejoicing in the thrill of music making, discovering strengths within themselves that they never knew existed, developing a confidence through their musical successes. Many children have been turned around in their school lives and are experiencing successes in all areas of their studies and social endeavours because of the successes they are getting from their music.