Teen pianist sought-after

Gasebalwe Seretse | Thursday December 12, 2013 17:00

 

Among the novices is pianist and keyboardist, Lebaka Keabile of Garungwana ward in Thamaga. The 19-year-old tertiary student has been playing the piano since he was six.  Today he is one of the most wanted pianists in the country.

“I grew up in a church environment where music was always playing. It was then when I started having interest in playing the keyboard. I persuaded my mother to buy me one, which she did and I have been playing it ever since,” Keabile said in an interview with Showbiz.

Keabile said that after getting the keyboard, he convinced his mother, Pelonomi Keabile to persuade famous artist, Joel Keitumele to teach him to play the instrument.  He said that though Keitumele had many commitments at the time, he still agreed to take him on as a student.

While Keitumele taught him the basics his father, Reverend Modisaotsile Keabile also taught him to play some songs. Without a fulltime mentor he taught himself to play most of what he already knows today.

At the age of 13, the instrumentalist said he joined the praise and worship team as a keyboardist at the Ramotswa Assemblies of God Church where his father ministered.  Though he studied music for three years at Kelemogile Junior Secondary he could not proceed with it at Kagiso Senior Secondary because the course was not in the school curriculum. “I tried to find a place in other senior schools that offered music as a subject. Unfortunately, all the schools that did turned me down. I then joined the school choir at Kagiso just to keep my passion for music alive,” Keabile said. After completing secondary school two years ago, he joined what he termed the ‘corporate music world’. He has so far worked with established gospel artists such as Bakkie Molaodi, Matthews Matsetse, Moleti ‘Pastor Molf’ Gaolathe, Busi Ngwanawatau and Mazwiho Nfila among others.

He said that one of the memorable moments in his career as an instrumentalist was being the first keyboardist at the historic live recording of Pastor Molf’s latest album at Faith Covenant Ministries in Tlokweng on June, 29. He asserted that locally, he is inspired by pianist Gabarogwe while internationally he looks up to the likes of Kevin Bond, George Duke and Duke Ellington.  Keabile, who is also a vocalist of note, said that some of the local artists he admires include Punah and Bianca Gabasiane, Matthews Matsetse, Suggie Fisher and Tshepo Lesole. Quizzed why he is studying computer system engineering while he was quickly making a name for himself in the music world he philosophically said, “Music is my passion and I would really like to be a fulltime musician but a man needs something to fall back on when things don’t go according to plan.”

The youthful pianist said that he would always be thankful for the support that his family gave him which has enabled him to be the artist that he is today.  One can only hope that Keabile’s star keeps on rising.