“This is not just about learning songs or notes, it’s about connecting these kids,” Kumalo said. “Some of them never played together or they don’t know each other because they come from different schools. But now they’re learning how to communicate through music, which is an amazing thing. That’s what we tried to do here with this program—communication, and give them things that they don’t get anywhere [else]. When they come here, we’re all family. We’re all learning together, even though I’ve been playing for 50 years. I’m here to learn with them.”
Despite being discovered by Simon and playing with singers and musicians such as Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Khan, Gloria Estefan and Herbie Hancock, among others, Kumalo said he was a bit nervous the night before the camp began. He said he wanted to be sure to connect with the students and have them learn something from him.
Kumalo said he’s focused on teaching the students and giving them opportunities to succeed if they plan to stick with music. It’s also important, he said, for him to share his personal stories, including how staying consistent with music and practicing every day led him to become a performance artist.
While Kumalo is a Grammy-winning musician, he didn’t have his own instrument until he was in his early 20’s. Kumalo said when he joined a band in South Africa instruments were provided, but they weren’t permitted to go home with the members. In order to continue to practice at home, he said he made his own bass out of cardboard using a marker to draw the strings and frets. He said he practiced his fingerings from rehearsals and trained his hand while he sang the baseline.
“The music, it just gave me a chance to see the world,” Kumalo said. “I was discovered by Paul Simon and I didn’t even know who Paul Simon was. He gave me a chance to go all over the world with him. … It’s something that I want them to know that you can go the distance, just think big. If you want to play music, practice, think big.”
Laurans Trinh, a rising junior at Salisbury High School in Salisbury Township, was one of five students who returned to work with Kumalo after attending the initial program at Zoellner in 2020. The inaugural Music Master Mentor Program was scheduled to be six three-hour Saturday sessions, ending with a concert at Baker Hall, but was cut short after four sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trinh was able to eventually perform with six other students in the program, opening for Kumalo at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks in September 2021.
Trinh said the program means a lot to him because before attending, he “never really knew what jazz truly was.” He believes it has helped him grow exponentially as a musician.
“I became so invested in just trying to do what [the instructors did] through listening and that started me on my journey of jazz music,” Trinh said. “I owe it to this program so much because I learned so much from it.”
All three instructors were pleased with how this year’s program progressed and because the students quickly absorbed the material, two additional songs were added for the group to work through together.
“You never know what to expect, because children are individuals. It just depends on how the group falls and this particular group, they’re all willing to work together,’ Fraser said. “Everybody is so willing to help each other. … It’s been a pleasure. The vibe is great.”
Kumalo also gave credit to Lehigh and Zoellner for hosting the program and giving the school students this opportunity.
“They understand that the art can change the kids [for the] better and these kids, they love to be here,” Kumalo said.
Kumalo doesn’t intend for his support for the students’ musical path to end with the camp. He said he still has a job after they’re finished this year and that’s to find them venues to perform. He’d like to arrange for them to play at local venues.
“The more they play, the more they get comfortable and they learn more and then they move forward,” Kumalo said. “They’re going to be the next teachers so we have to support them to do that.”
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