VOA慢速英语2011--American Music Students in Kenya

Education Report - American Music Students in Kenya

This is the VOA Special English Education Report. Current and former students from Berklee College of Music in Boston recently returned to the United States after three weeks in Kenya. They were part of a cultural exchange program aiming to influence lives through music. They taught music, performed and donated instruments to a Kenyan community center. They also learned about traditional Kenyan music.
Music is an important part of life in Kenya.
(MUSIC)
SAM LUTOMIA: “Growing up, I sang a lot in school. And we had competitions and choir¹ and music every year.”
Sam Lutomia works for the Berklee College of Music. He was born and spent his early years in Kenya.
SAM LUTOMIA: “When I moved to the States, I get exposed to a higher level of music. And I was like, ‘Is there something I can do not that I’m in the States?’”
He helped to create a group called Global Youth Groove². Its goal is to bring western music to young Kenyans, and get them to consider music as a career.
SAM LUTOMIA: “I started talking with students at Berklee College of Music and faculty³ members, and they all responded positively⁴. And we started collecting instruments.”
Thirteen Americans made the trip to Kenya in July. They included four high school students from the Boston area. One of them was Marina Miller⁵.
MARINA MILLER: “We started out in Nairobi. We got a chance to meet with local musicians and listen to them play.”
Project coordinator⁶ Aaron Colverson says the Americans presented a gift during a visit to Kakamega in western Kenya.
AARON COLVERSON: “We’ve gathered like 20 instruments. We had some recorders and also an entire drum kit⁷, lap tops and recording⁸ software.”
Many Kenyans attended the activities offered by the group.
(MUSIC)
Berklee student David Chapman says for some of the Kenyans, it was the first time to see and touch such instruments.
DAVID CHAPMAN: “Their music classes would just be them reading books about western instruments.”
Aaron Colverson says music can give someone a sense of power.
AARON COLVERSON: “When you put music in front of kids, it seems that their minds open up. Music gives them a chance to express themselves through songs and writing the songs.”
The American group also performed at a national music festival. During the trip, Aaron Colverson says, they met with local musicians and listened to them play. They also learned about traditional Kenyan instruments, dances and songs.
AARON COLVERSON (singing in Swahili): “It’s pretty music to say nice to meet you, in Kenya where there are no worries.”
Trip organizer Sam Lutomia says he is happy with the levels of energy the exchange program has produced. He hopes the trip will take place every year and expand to neighboring countries. I’m Bob Doughty⁹.
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Contributing: Faiza Elmasry

1 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

2 groove   

n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯

参考例句：

• They're happy to stay in the same old groove.他们乐于墨守成规。
• The cupboard door slides open along the groove.食橱门沿槽移开。

3 faculty   

n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员

参考例句：

• He has a great faculty for learning foreign languages.他有学习外语的天赋。
• He has the faculty of saying the right thing at the right time.他有在恰当的时候说恰当的话的才智。

4 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

5 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

6 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

7 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

8 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

9 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。