Children’s Music Courses in Bolivia

We are proud to have completed another year of traditional music tuition for children in several rural communities in Bolivia. This year was marked by significant challenges, including rapidly rising costs following changes in government and severe fuel shortages that made travel to our schools extremely difficult. Despite these obstacles, the music teachers from the Orquesta Experimental de Instrumentos Nativos showed extraordinary dedication and continued their work without interruption. We are deeply grateful for their commitment and resilience.

Thanks to their creativity and care, the teachers developed new and inclusive teaching methods to ensure that every child who wished to participate could do so, regardless of ability or natural aptitude. As a result, children grew in confidence as well as musical skill, and the groups were able to take part in local performances and festivals that were warmly received by their communities.

Looking ahead, we aim to support the children in forming their own small ensembles, enabling them to perform independently and share the joy of Bolivian music more widely. In time, these groups may also offer the children an opportunity to generate income, helping to support themselves and their families.

A particularly meaningful moment of the year was a masterclass, where the children learned directly from experienced musicians about the traditions behind the music, as well as how to care for their instruments. They also made their own protective instrument bags, encouraging a sense of pride and responsibility for their tools.

The year concluded with a gala performance at an ethnographic museum in La Paz—a truly unforgettable experience. For many of the children, it was their first time leaving their villages or performing on a stage, and the sense of achievement and joy was unmistakable.

We are delighted by the progress of this programme and look forward to another year of working together to give more children the opportunity to learn, perform, and celebrate Bolivia’s rich musical heritage.