01
Studio.
Come to our Kikuyu studio. Private or small-group sessions, in the room with your trainer and a proper instrument.
—/ session
Book a studio classAfrican instruments
The instruments of home.
Marimba, litungu, orutu, ishiriri, kayamba, wandindi, nyatiti — the music of East Africa, taught by Kikuyu's most experienced traditional-instrument faculty. No formal grade ladder; instead, an oral-tradition progression that takes you from first stroke to solo and ensemble performance.
Signature programme
Concerto's differentiator
Instruments
7+ traditional East African instruments
Tradition
Oral-method rooted · Performance-driven
Performance
KMF African category preparation
The journey
What you'll learn at every grade.
Beginner to ensemble performance. Each milestone below is roughly a year of consistent practice; ABRSM certification is recognised worldwide and counts toward UCAS points for university applications.
01
First strokes.
Learning to hold and strike your chosen instrument with intent — marimba mallets, the bowing of the orutu, the plucking of the litungu or nyatiti. Posture, basic rhythmic patterns, and ear-training to internalise the modal scales used across East African traditions.
Outcome:Comfortable producing clean tone and basic rhythmic patterns.
02
The first pieces.
Three to five short traditional pieces specific to your instrument, learnt by ear in the oral tradition. Beginning to understand the song-form of the tradition — call-and-response, cyclical rhythmic structures, the role of the soloist vs the ensemble.
Outcome:Can perform three traditional pieces solo without notation.
03
Ensemble integration.
Joining our African-instruments ensemble — playing your part within a larger group, listening to the lead, responding to dynamic and tempo changes. Ensemble play is how this music has been taught for centuries and is irreplaceable in your development.
Outcome:Confident ensemble member, contributing musically to rehearsals.
04
Soloist & repertoire.
Expanding the repertoire significantly (10+ pieces), beginning to lead within the ensemble, learning to improvise within the modal structures of the tradition, working solo features for performance.
Outcome:Capable of leading a small ensemble and performing solo repertoire.
05
KMF & performance grade.
For students preparing for the Kenya Music Festival African category, this stage focuses on competition-ready performance — repertoire selection, presentation, ensemble polish, and the specific judging criteria of the KMF African instrument categories.
Outcome:Competition-ready; ensemble members feature at our end-of-year recital.
06
Mastery & teaching.
Advanced students who reach this stage often transition into teaching within Concerto's programme — preserving and passing on the tradition. We support that path with informal pedagogy training and an apprentice-trainer role within the ensemble.
Outcome:Recognised performer; eligible to apprentice as a Concerto trainer.
How you can learn
Three ways in.
02
At home.
Trainer comes to you — Muthaiga, Kileleshwa, Kilimani, Upperhill, Milimani. Same faculty, your space, no commute.
Premium · pricing on enquiry
How in-home works03
Online.
Live one-on-one over our private classroom. Anywhere with a stable connection — Kenya or abroad.
—/ session
Try onlineInside the room
What a typical mid-stage marimba lesson looks like.
Every session has a rhythm. Here's the shape of a typical hour — adjusted up or down depending on age, grade and what your last week looked like.
00:00 – 00:10
Warm-up.
Mallet technique drills across the keys — single strokes, double strokes, four-mallet rolls. Tune your ear to the pentatonic scale of the day.
00:10 – 00:25
Repertoire focus.
The current piece, learnt by ear — trainer plays a phrase, you repeat. We loop short phrases until they are locked in, then chain them into the full piece.
00:25 – 00:45
Ensemble work.
You play your part against the trainer's complementary line. We swap parts so you learn the full song from both perspectives — which deepens your musical understanding.
00:45 – 00:55
Improvisation.
Over a static modal backing, you take a short solo — exploring the scale, the call-and-response structure, and the rhythmic vocabulary of the tradition.
00:55 – 01:00
Practice plan.
Listening as much as playing — we share recordings of master players in the tradition to listen to during the week. The ear is the most important muscle.
Frequently asked
Before you enrol.
01Which African instrument should I start with?+
Marimba is the most accessible — visual layout (like piano keys), forgiving on the ear, immediate musical reward. Litungu and nyatiti suit students drawn to plucked strings. Orutu suits those with violin or string background. Kayamba is the easiest entry of all (a rhythm shaker). We can advise at a trial.
02Do you provide the instruments?+
Yes — we have marimbas, litungu, orutu, ishiriri, kayamba and nyatiti at the studio for lesson use. For at-home practice we recommend buying or commissioning an instrument from our network of traditional luthiers; we can connect you with trusted makers in Western Kenya and Nairobi.
03Is there a formal grade system?+
No — and that is intentional. These instruments belong to oral traditions that do not map cleanly onto Western examination ladders. Progression is measured through competency stages (see above), performance milestones (ensemble integration, soloist work), and Kenya Music Festival participation for those who want competitive validation.
04Can my child learn African instruments?+
Absolutely — children often pick these up faster than adults because they bring less assumption. We accept students from age six on marimba and kayamba, age eight on the plucked strings, age 10 on the bowed orutu.
05Do you prepare students for KMF (Kenya Music Festival)?+
Yes — our African Instruments ensemble has prepared students for the KMF African category. Preparation typically begins three to four months before the festival window; we cover repertoire selection, presentation, ensemble polish and the judging criteria specific to each category.
06Can I learn African instruments online?+
Some yes, some no. Plucked instruments (litungu, nyatiti) translate reasonably well — the trainer can see hand position and hear technique. Marimba is harder remotely because of the camera angle on the keys. Orutu and bowed instruments work but lose intonation precision over video. We advise studio-based learning where possible.
07Can I combine African instruments with my main instrument?+
Many of our most advanced students do exactly this — a pianist who also plays marimba, a vocalist who also plays kayamba. The musical literacy crosses over and adds dimensions to your main instrument. We will help you find a sustainable practice balance.
08How does pricing differ from Western instruments?+
Standard physical-class pricing applies — there is no premium for African instruments and no penalty either. Family and sibling discounts apply as with our other programmes.
Pick up the tradition this week.
Book your first lesson — your trainer will meet you wherever you are, with a plan tailored to your goals.