Americans become pied pipers of Plett community

Janine Oelofse GARDEN ROUTE BUREAU CHIEF

AN American couple involved in the music industry have become the pied pipers of Plettenberg Bay, teaching children living in a safe house in Kurland Village to play a variety of instruments.

Jim Tooher, who owns a music store on Long Island, and his wife, Barbara Aragon, a retired nurse, travelled to Plett in 2005 to do missionary work, building a room onto a children‘s shelter.

“We had a lot of down time waiting for building supplies and I played my guitar for the kids,” Tooher said. They had decided to do something tangible and accepted an offer from the shelter to establish a music school.

“It was such a magical moment because Jim and I had already decided we weren‘t going to come back and then we were asked about the music school.”

On their first return trip in 2006, Tooher brought with him six violins and a recorder, and by the end of two weeks they had 13 children able to play a tune.

“The children called us aside and played a little ensemble. I just cried and I still get teary thinking about it,” Aragon said.

She and Tooher teach the children how to play instruments and how to read music.

They try to come to South Africa once or twice a year and during their time away, local resident Jane Donald takes over the classes from them.

This year the couple have expanded their efforts to include adult classes in Knysna.

“There are many people who can play an instrument, but have never been taught to read a sheet of music.

“Now that Jim is teaching them, they will be able to offer music lessons and become teachers themselves,” Aragon said.

The couple said they wanted to encourage other musicians to join their efforts, buying instruments for the children and giving lessons.

“We‘d like to light the match. We don‘t necessarily aim to make professional musicians out of these children, we just want to give them some happiness and help them feel good about themselves,” Tooher said.