Trinidad Express Newspapers
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Music was the language of celebration for the 84 Pan-in-Schools workshop participants who showed off their talents in a spectacular graduation ceremony held at the Queen’s Hall Auditorium recently in St Ann’s.
The event was a fitting culmination of the music workshops held during the July-August vacation period at venues across Trinidad and sister isle Tobago, which were conducted by the Pan-in-Schools Coordinating Council (PSCC) and sponsored by energy company bp Trinidad and Tobago.
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I've made a conscious decision to comment less on issues relating to the future of pan because my ideas are so different from most on this forum and I 'm getting tired of arguments and repetition.
I should comment however that apart from ensuring the future of pan, the Pan in School program's should also be recognized for introducing young people to music in an available and accessible way.
Learning music in Trinidad used to be restricted to people of some means who could afford tutors (except for the orphanages which provided many of our musicians in the old days).
A child can now begin his or her musical education on the pan, easily accessible at school , and take that knowledge of music to who knows where?
This is great for all aspects of the culture.
I was very impressed by this quote from the Express article.:
"Barely able to contain her excitement was 16-year old Naparima Girls’ High School Form Six pupil, Akilah Gomez, who was one of eight recipients of special awards for outstanding performance. “I did music for CXC and this workshop has inspired me to continue to develop as a musician, but more importantly, as a citizen contributing to the progress of Trinidad and Tobago. This experience was unforgettable and I would encourage young people to enrol and get exposed to a world of music they never knew existed. I thank bpTT and PSCC for giving me this wonderful opportunity to shape the future of music,” said an enthralled Gomez. "
Any means necessary (within legal confines) in pushing this art form forward is highly recommended. congrats to Pat Adams and the PSCC. Many people are unaware of this organization of which the late Teddy Belgrave (RIP) was also a part of. I have had interaction with this organization in the past and they have been consistent in their agenda of similar programs as a matter of fact their history indicates that they were in existence before the "Pan In The Classroom Unit" which is today responsible for the Pan programs in the Public School of T&T. Perhaps the President Patricia Adams can clarify this and their role and future endeavors.
A student in the article mentioned about the CXC exams ( The CXC is the equivalent to our GCE back in our day-- The GCE was based on the grading system from England the CXC is based on the Caricom - Caribbean grading). It is high time that the Steelpan be included as a complete program in the CXC examinations ...this means that it is high time that all Caribean nations insist on having steelpan programs in their public schools in their curicullum not as simply extra-curicullar activiies. That said and done T&T should be leading in this aspect ..but alas our Pan in the schools program is in need of a proper syllabus to begin with, and the more intelligent approach of respect as a "true graded subject". We are not doing enough in this area, even though we have all the tools including Steelpan Text Books. I truly hope by the time I am finished writing this that someone would come forward and say that it is not so now .... that would be a positive start.
To all the the brothers and sisters on this forum who are not from Trinidad and Tobago but are from other Caribbean islands.. it is your duty to push and insist on your governments that you need to have Pan officially in your public schools' curicullum ..We need much more than Pan in the Panyard or a junior Panorama competition for schools ..step forward and step up guys.. PAN PROGRAMS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CXC EXAMINATIONS ...I am calling you guys out, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Guyana, Jamaica, Martinique, Haiti, Cuba et al.
Put the Pan in the hands of the youths of the nations by exposing them to it n the most positive way as a :true subject" in their schools.
Salah Wilson
Salah: You are eminently qualified (formally, practically, administratively, culturally, natively and experientially) to institute and administrate that CXC PAN PROGRAM you described above.
RUN WITH IT!!!
We have successfully taken the steelpan away from the steelband, It's all well and good the teach pan in schools but lets be real here, what are we preparing them for, to play in panorama? we'll have a lot of good panist but how many would make a career of pan, this industry is almost nonexistent.
It will be much better for our culture if our "BIG THINKERS" find a way of getting the STEELBANDS back on the road for carnival instead buying in to the notion that "dem days done"
Cecil,
My guess is you disagree with the challenge PT vice president Brian Serrette gave the graduates.
"We have to stop viewing our national instrument as simply one that can be played, and look at the industry that can be created around it. We need scientists, manufacturers, tuners, arrangers and a host of other professionals. I challenge you graduates to think ‘outside of the pan’ and become innovators and take up your role as future world steelpan leaders."
odw, don't get me wrong here, I am in agreement with the challenge from the VP of PT, we better develop scientists and manufacturers ect, because jump high or low pan WILL reach it's full potential because it is beyond the shores of T&T.
My concern is the STEELBAND in the mecca, it look like no one want to talk about the STEELBAND.
Cecil, have been harping about pan on the road for carnival, pan on the road never stop, it is all modern now with the bands on a trailer bed pull by a vehicle.
What Brian Serrette said, We need scientists, manufacturers, tuners, arrangers and a host of other professionals. I challenge you graduates to think ‘outside of the pan’ and become innovators and take up your role as future world steelpan leaders."
Steelbands needs Entrepreneurs thinkers to take the business forward....
Gavin,
Why do you try to create the impression that everything is good with the steelband and carnival when everyone knows it's not. I have to harp on this topic because the steelband has always been a part of carnival, now that it is profitable everybody making money except the steelband I can't see how this don't bother you, it bothers me and I intend to keep on reminding everyone how stupid it is for the steelband not to be involve is carnival in a big way. As a matter of fact carnival these days aint saying that much so it might not be a bad idea for the powers that be to have a look at where we came from and where we are going.
Gavin, I don't see pan on a trailer bed as modern it's what you all call it.
You can check out the post we have going and comment, Sponsors and Steelbands.