WashingtonPost.com
Interview by Lystra Lashley
My daughter, Malika, played a significant role in my decision to establish the Cultural Academy for Excellence, an arts-in-education program. At age 6, Malika started piano lessons and loved it until she attended a summer steel drum camp in Trinidad and Tobago. Five weeks later, she returned to the United States with a set of double-second steel drums, the more versatile of the instruments, and promptly announced to her dad and me, “I’m not taking piano lessons anymore.” She was “hooked” on the steel drum, and it changed her life forever. I saw this quiet, introverted child transformed into an outspoken, more focused and disciplined person. Her grades even improved. I couldn’t believe the positive effect this instrument had on my daughter.
I decided to visit Trinidad because I wanted to witness an enrichment program conducted by a renowned musician, Maureen Clement, who uses the steel drums to enhance academic learning and build self-esteem among her young students. Clement explained that the steel drum instrument is very easy to learn, and when a child realizes he or she can master a tune on the instrument, his or her confidence is uplifted. There is a sense of accomplishment, which oftentimes can accelerate academic learning. I asked, “Is that possible?” The musical notes are written on the steel drum, so a child does not have to know how to read music to learn a tune. I was moved to see the joy on the faces of the children as they played the steel drums.
Replies
I thank your daughter; I thank you for acting on a realization about the specialness of pan. Thanks for sharing this. Continued success to your Academy and it s students.
Keep up the good work Lorna Green
the real purpose of pan. Thank you Malika and Mom!
So many people everywhere have recognized the importance of pan, not only as a musical instrument, but as a way to improve the development of children in education and other areas.
Yet in the country of its origin the Government pays scant respect to it. Go figure.