The Texan Daily
Texas, USA - A steel drum orchestra relies on each musician’s ability to hit their notes, stay on tempo and put in the effort to create a spectacular experience for audiences. A small school in Austin today is carrying out that same mission to teach young students the art of steel band music and how to work together.
....In 2003, Paula Beaird started the Austin Community Steelband school in East Austin as a way to expose youths from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds to a musical world. The program, however, didn’t really find its rhythm until 2007 when other instructors came aboard from Trinidad and Tobago. The teaching staff at the time included musical directors Yohan Popwell and Leon Edwards as well as Natasha Joseph and Carl Caton.
Beaird, who is the executive director, said her goal is to spark the imagination in young people the same way she was captivated by steel band over thirty years ago.
....Beaird was drawn to the sound of steel drums after listening to them for the first time on a blues album by Taj Mahal. Austin Steelband tries to engage students in a similar way by having them practice with songs they like to listen to..
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Pls. fix the link...
-Big Sid
Fixed Big Sid.
Thanks for looking out.
U r welcome...
Interesting article. Another example of pan "missionaries" all over the world... carrying on in a very unassuming, but effective, way. Hats off to them, and I wish them well. Yohan Popwell knows his stuff and seems to be effective with young people, to judge by this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSFKy9osHYM.
But I want to suggest that the pan is therapeutic not just for "disadvantaged" youth. When you think about it, anyone can suffer an affliction of the soul that needs tending.
Look at the Pan Dulce band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=706mYf1Wr-4. They don't look disadvantaged to me... But I'm sure pan has enriched their lives...
-Big Sid