THE TRAINING CENTER
In 2018, the Kinarmonik center was designed according to the difficulties encountered by Kinshasa musicians: training, rehearsing, having instruments and a rehearsal room available. In a city of 18 million inhabitants, where means of transport are expensive, cultural venues scattered and vocational training centers non-existent, Kinarmonik offers a "Everything on site" formula: a music training and learning centre, a rehearsal room with instruments available, a digital library, a monthly program of various activities, a recording studio and a production label.
Settling in the town of Matete is a deliberate and thoughtful choice, the socio-economic impact is a priority for us: acting with disadvantaged populations, involving the community in our actions with young people and offering a place accessible to amateur musicians and professionals.
For 5 years, Kinarmonik has become a place of life and sharing which brings the small surrounding businesses to life, where the public mixes, a place of meeting and creation where projects and collaborations are born.
The price of music lessons is based on a day pass of 2000CDF/day ($1). This rate is voluntarily below the rates charged ($15/day) in Kinshasa, in order to favor the poorest. The musical creativity course, access to the digital library, rehearsal room, instruments available, concerts and all activities are free.
To help musicians a system of sponsorship has been set up, currently 25 benefit from it.
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THE CENTER TEAM
Eric Malu-Malu
Pedagogical manager
Professor
Toussaint Kimbembi
Head of the center
Teacher
Gabriel Wadigesila
Professor
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Leah Mbuyamba
cultural manager
THE CENTER IN PHOTOS...
The young rappers of the district writing their text.
Singer Dolicia Keta in rehearsal with her band.
Intergenerational meetings with maestros and young people, between respect and for the oldest discoveries of new music.
MUSICAL TRAINING
DAILY RATE, WEDNESDAY 2 LESSONS!
PRACTICE
The instrument practice lessons are given by Toussaint KIMBEMBI who is also responsible for the center.
This course offers you to improve the practice for the confirmed or to start the practice of an instrument for the beginners .
Bass, guitar, drums, piano & percussion.
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HOURS & PRICES
Teacher: Toussaint Kimbembi
Monday / Wednesday / Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
Price: 2000 Cdf / day
THE THEORY
Music theory is taught by Gabriel WADIGESILA, professor and recognized musician in Kinshasa. Aware of the difficulty of some for reading or writing, he has developed a learning method based on the highway code, this method has proven itself. This course invites you to discover or develop the theoretical part of music by covering harmony, rhythms and arrangement.
TIMES & PRICES
Teacher: Gaby Wadigesila
Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Price: 2000 Cdf / day
THE CREATION
Once a month, Eric Malu-Malu gives a course which, through different angles, aims to develop musical creativity. It is about rhythms, research, composition or writing. This interactive course is sometimes accompanied by speakers from other artistic disciplines such as dance, allowing the musicians to broaden their creative universe.
TIMETABLES & PRICES
Teacher: Eric Malu - Malu
1 Lesson / Month
Free lesson
THE ACTIVITIES
Leah Mbuyamba - Cultural Manager
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After a one-year training at Kinarmonik, Leah has been cultural manager since 2021. She is the one who sets up and organizes all the activities of the center, who manages the reservations for the rehearsal room, who meets the speakers of the workshops and masterclasses.
She is also a musician and continues her musical training at the center where she created her group Yotsi.
Workshop "Learning a traditional rhythm from a dance step"
Speakers: dancer Laeticia Boanga and percussionist Anguy Nsingi.
Discovery of the Topoké rhythm of the Eastern Province, learning this rhythm for our young drummer Jephté.
Targeted priority area: diversity, parity.
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From time to time, Kinarmonik organizes cultural outings for the young people of the centre. Beyond personal development, access to cultural venues and other modes of artistic expression encourages the reduction of inequalities, openness to the world and promotes exchanges.
On June 18, 2022, the young people attended the Keziah Jones concert organized by the Jazzkiff festival at the French institute in Gombe.
Each month in addition to the training, 3 main activities are organized:
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a video projection which allows musicians to discover international artists, concerts or documentaries on the different fields of music.
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a workshop or a masterclass on topics as diverse as copyright, production, a specific aspect of music or a traditional rhythm.
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The JamKin jam session devoted to a Congolese or international artist or group. A must for Kinshasa musicians, this activity is very popular with beginners who can play with professionals.
Since 2018, many musicians have come to play with young people, but the special JamKin Jupiter & Okwess group from Kinshasa who play on the biggest stages in the world, they still talk about it!
A great moment of sharing where the young musicians from the Tychick centre, Matthias (guitars) Jephté (drummer) and Leah (bass) defended themselves well, making their teachers Eric (guitar) and Toussaint (bass) proud.
In 2023, Kinarmonik organizes the first rap freestyle battle. Urban music being poorly represented in the DRC, rappers have no stage to express themselves and lack visibility. The first took place in February and twenty young rappers came from all over Kinshasa.