9 months ago
28
Nestled in the rolling hills of Weston, Vermont, is a musical oasis called Kinhaven."It's very intense music-making within a community, but it's also having fun with your peers," said Marty Knieriem, the director of Kinhaven's Junior Session.During the summer sessions, the fun is often on full display in the lunchroom, where musicians from across the country often break out into song in between bites of food. All 75 students at this year's junior session had to audition and were accepted into the competitive program, including two self-taught violinists who've had almost no music lessons. "They're two very unique individuals. They're wonderful guys," Knieriem said.Stephen Ongoma and Peter Kariuki from Nairobi, Kenya, learned how to read music and play their beloved instruments by watching YouTube videos back home."I got inspired by a friend of mine, and I thought I also need to have an instrument of my own," Ongoma said."One day, I was watching a (television) series, and I was inspired by a girl who played the violin," Kariuki said. Their talents led them to the Ghetto Classics program in their Nairobi neighborhood, where they now have the important role of teaching the next generation of kids how to read and play music."If I know something you don't, I will teach (my students), and maybe (they) will teach me," Kariuki said.When their instructor at Kinhaven, Caeli Smith, heard their story and saw their potential, she arranged for a two-week trip in August to help them perfect their craft."(Smith) organizes classes, and she's an amazing person," Ongoma said.Though their time in Vermont was short, they have new songs to share with their students when they return home."I'll be going home with a lot of lessons learned, and I'll forward that to whichever group I'll be coaching later," Ongoma said."I want (my students) to feel inspired. I want to tell my story through music. I want others to listen to my story. I want the kids back home to be inspired by my story and know that they can still make it in life," Kariuki said."It's just fantastic (that they'll take the lessons learned here back to Kenya), and it's just an extension of the Kinhaven spirit," Knieriem said.The program is helping to end their summer on the right note.If you know a child interested in auditioning for Kinhaven, click here for the application.
Nestled in the rolling hills of Weston, Vermont, is a musical oasis called Kinhaven.
"It's very intense music-making within a community, but it's also having fun with your peers," said Marty Knieriem, the director of Kinhaven's Junior Session.
During the summer sessions, the fun is often on full display in the lunchroom, where musicians from across the country often break out into song in between bites of food.
All 75 students at this year's junior session had to audition and were accepted into the competitive program, including two self-taught violinists who've had almost no music lessons.
"They're two very unique individuals. They're wonderful guys," Knieriem said.
Stephen Ongoma and Peter Kariuki from Nairobi, Kenya, learned how to read music and play their beloved instruments by watching YouTube videos back home.
"I got inspired by a friend of mine, and I thought I also need to have an instrument of my own," Ongoma said.
"One day, I was watching a (television) series, and I was inspired by a girl who played the violin," Kariuki said.
Their talents led them to the Ghetto Classics program in their Nairobi neighborhood, where they now have the important role of teaching the next generation of kids how to read and play music.
"If I know something you don't, I will teach (my students), and maybe (they) will teach me," Kariuki said.
When their instructor at Kinhaven, Caeli Smith, heard their story and saw their potential, she arranged for a two-week trip in August to help them perfect their craft.
"(Smith) organizes classes, and she's an amazing person," Ongoma said.
Though their time in Vermont was short, they have new songs to share with their students when they return home.
"I'll be going home with a lot of lessons learned, and I'll forward that to whichever group I'll be coaching later," Ongoma said.
"I want (my students) to feel inspired. I want to tell my story through music. I want others to listen to my story. I want the kids back home to be inspired by my story and know that they can still make it in life," Kariuki said.
"It's just fantastic (that they'll take the lessons learned here back to Kenya), and it's just an extension of the Kinhaven spirit," Knieriem said.
The program is helping to end their summer on the right note.
If you know a child interested in auditioning for Kinhaven, click here for the application.
English (US)