ARCO Project (non-profit) Impact, heritage and curriculum study based in Prince Albert, South Sfrica

The ARCO Project is a registered NPC in South Africa that provides high-quality string and indigenous instrument tuition, theory, singing, chamber music and orchestral sessions to young people from under-resourced communities in Prince Albert. The project serves as both an educational intervention and a platform for personal and community development. ARCO is partnered with the Prince Albert Community Trust and has also established a formal collaboration with the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, UK. Although ARCO’s work is initially focused at a community level, its ambition is to transform the musical and socio-cultural landscape of the Great Karoo.

People
Learners (participants) are very compliant and in most cases very quiet in lessons. We do not assume to know the domestic situation of every one of our learners but we want to give each child a voice within their musical experience with us each week. This “voice” may not necessarily manifest as the spoken word. We hope but don’t assume that those learners who are inhibited or lacking confidence will perhaps find an outlet for expression and a voice in music, whether it be singing, playing their instrument and/or engaging with their peers in orchestra and chamber music groups.
ARCO staff have engaged with the local police force and undergone training in order to understand more fully how to recognise signs of substance abuse, domestic violence and other potential dangers that face vulnerable learners. Reporting mechanisms and forms are a part of the process we have signed up to be a part of. We are aware that the context of music lessons is more than likely the most personal and intimate teaching experience these learners have in their school week. With groups of 2 or 3 in instrumental, theory/singing/music appreciation lessons and orchestra and chamber music sessions with a maximum of 15-20 learners our staff are likely to notice physical and emotional issues. Class sizes in the primary school are particularly large, with average numbers between 40-60 learners. Albert College and Kweekvallei class sizes are much smaller. ARCO understands that it is working within a vulnerable community with young, impressionable minds and that exposure to music and playing an instrument is not part of the “routine” school curriculum. From the responses we have had over the past year this out of curriculum experience has evoked curiosity and positive emotional responses, provided distraction and tangible enjoyment. Performances given by learners have been overwhelmingly warmly received by family, friends and the community and it is clear that ARCO’s commitment to teach and perform solely South African music is culturally relevant and appropriate.
Based on some of the findings of the Phase 1 Qualitative Research conducted by Penny Alder ARCO has learnt that learners and their families need a deeper and fuller context in order to appreciate and understand the instruments and music they are being taught. In response to these findings we are adding music appreciation, theory and singing tuition. Later in 2026, with support from the Ethnomusicology department at the University of Cape Town we are hoping to be able to teach the history of indigenous instruments from the region and eventually make these instruments and learn how to play them. A third and final response from these findings - ARCO is currently seeking the expertise of several composers and musicians from a variety of genres with intimate knowledge of the Karoo and its music to begin the process of writing study music for a unique string teaching curriculum.
ARCO remains flexible and aware as it navigates its way sensitively within this community that it must listen to the people it is working with in order for its work to be successful and beneficial. Parent, teacher and learner cohort groups have been highly responsive and vocal in meetings, with the former articulating a determination to hold onto the provision of musician tuition for the children of their community. ARCO is deeply encouraged by this affirmation and support.
The partnership with the Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT) has deepened throughout our year and ARCO has learnt a great deal about how the trust is empowering and training young people across the region. This has also helped us understand the context of our work. We have had challenging moments in our partnership, ones that have required sensitive and skilful negotiation, but we are stronger because of this shared experience and desire to work together. So much so that we will this month be launching the new title of our work: The ARCO/PACT Strings Project.
Instruments
The climate in Prince Albert has been hugely challenging for the care and well being of our instrument collection. The impact of the extreme heat and cold on our fragile instrument collection is an issue. A big part of our teaching involves educating learners how to handle and take care of the fragile and precious instruments they are learning to play. There have been a few small accidents, but we need to continue to be vigilant and focused on preserving and ultimately expanding this priceless resource.
Since we do not yet permit learners to take instruments home to practice hygiene is a concern as they utilise the same instruments. We apply hand sanitiser to each learners’ hands as they enter the lesson room. As far as possible we are trying to mitigate the spreading of germs and keep our instruments clean.