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IHS&VRInstitute for Healthy Singing & Voice Research

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Kenya Outreach: Changing Lives Through Music Education

Update March 2025: Currently, the most critical needs are funds to purchase instrument repair supplies (tools, corks, pads, strings, oil, etc.), band and choir music for Elementary, Middle School, and High School levels, and funding for shipping larger instruments and covering volunteer teacher expenses.

Donate to Kenya music educationAmazon wishlist

Bringing music education back to Kenyan schools

For over 20 years, music education has been largely absent from the curriculum in Kenyan schools. As a result, few educators have received formal training in music instruction, making it especially challenging to introduce music programs — particularly in rural areas where resources are scarce. With the recent reinstatement of music education as a required subject, schools across the country are eager to build their programs, and students are showing a growing interest in both learning music and pursuing careers in music education.

Understanding the need

Since 2022, the Institute for Healthy Singing & Voice Research has worked alongside Kenyan educators to assess how best to support the revival of music education. Schools often receive minimal government-provided materials — sometimes as little as a single soprano recorder and a few student workbooks for an entire school. Many teachers have been tasked with teaching music despite having little or no background in the subject. Recognizing the critical need for both teacher training and instructional materials, IHS&VR has taken action to support schools in building sustainable music programs.

Supporting music teachers and students

Over the past three years, our volunteers — experienced music educators — have traveled to Kenya to provide direct training for teachers and students. During these immersive three-week teaching trips, our team has equipped teachers with foundational music literacy skills, such as solfège, rhythm, and note reading; demonstrated effective lesson planning and sequencing; introduced healthy vocal techniques and ensemble singing; and engaged with students who have shown an increasing passion for music.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, U.S. teachers have made four dedicated trips to Kenya (March 2023, March 2024, June 2024, and March 2025), investing their time and resources to make a lasting impact. Each journey requires volunteers to take time away from work, cover significant travel expenses, and ensure they are not a financial burden on the local schools they serve.

The school is committed to nurturing learner’s potential in music but faces a great challenge due to lack of musical instruments.
Wycliffe Isatia, Kapkemich Primary-Secondary School Principal

The need for support

Your donations will help to:

  • Cover travel expenses for volunteer educators.
  • Provide necessary teaching materials and instruments.
  • Support teachers during their stay, allowing them to focus on training without placing additional strain on the schools.

Join our instrument drive

You can provide classroom and band instruments to the schools in Kapkemich, Kenya in one of three ways. All gifts are tax deductible.

  1. Make a cash donation using the link on this page. All gifts are tax deductible.
  2. Donate new or gently used instruments at the William Baker Choral Foundation, Inc., 5450 Buena Vista Street, #100, Roeland Park, Kansas 66205. Office phone: 913-488-7524.
  3. Shop and donate items directly from the Amazon wishlist.

Give to the outreach

Secure gifts are received through the Kenya Music Education Outreach fund.

Field notes

Kenya blog