SENIORS MARIMBA CLASSES at the Errington Hall

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Thursday, October 1st, 2026
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

The Errington Hall is hosting 10 Zimbabwean Marimba classes for seniors this fall on Thursday afternoons. Experience the joy of playing songs from Southern Africa taught by Duncan's Ted Wright and Qualicum's Jill Russell. They use the oral method of teaching. First they demonstrate the parts that make up each song and then give individual assistance as needed. By the end of the first class your group is likely to be able to play a melody...such an accomplishment!

Ted will also give some background on Zimbabwean culture that adds to the understanding and enjoyment of the music.

Hand crafted marimbas are provided. Class numbers are capped at 8.

Instructors' Bios

TED WRIGHT

Ted began his Zimbabwean musical journey in 1993, joining what became Victoria BC's Marimba Muzuva. He has been a teacher of marimba, mbira, chipendani and gumboot dancing for many years, and has traveled to Zimbabwe regularly since his first visit in 1994, studying and performing with many of Zimbabwe's top traditional musicians. Ted created and continues to organize the biannual Zimbabwean music and dance gathering Nhemamusasa North, and teaches workshops, school groups and ongoing classes as director of Bopoma on Vancouver Island. He has led the seniors’ marimba program in Errington since 2025.

JILL RUSSELL

Multi-instrumentalist Jill has been making music since she hopped out of the nest and shook out her wings. A childhood spent in a community band, summer music camps and band trips led to jazz studies in university. Post studies, her flight path took her to San Francisco’s vibrant latin and new wave music scene followed by six years and hundreds of shows touring with Brazilian master musician Celso Machado. In 2000, Jill returned to Vancouver and for several years played jazz and World Music Festivals fronting her own band, Corcovado. An interest in flamenco music and dance led to festivals and tablaos in New Mexico and southern Spain. Jill’s migratory path landed on Vancouver Island in 2020 and she has been busy performing and teaching from Campbell River to the Cowichan Valley in a variety of projects, including Errington’s seniors’ marimba program.

The Registration form is at https://erringtonhall.ca/seniors-marimba-beginners-class/

Other Dates for this event:

Thursday, October 8th, 2026, Thursday, October 15th, 2026, Thursday, October 22nd, 2026, Thursday, October 29th, 2026, Thursday, November 5th, 2026, Thursday, November 12th, 2026, Thursday, November 19th, 2026, Thursday, November 26th, 2026, Thursday, December 3rd, 2026