"It is a fact that our home-bred national instrument is perhaps the best disciplinarian there is, supported by several success stories through the years. I remember, way back as a child, when my late uncle headed NATTS (National Association of T&T Steelbandsmen), Andy Narell’s father using pan as a remedy to curb truancy, crime and violence in Harlem, USA. In fact, it was this revolutionary programme which spawned Narell to become one of the world’s foremost pannists today, not to mention the crime rate in Harlem dropped significantly when the programme took root." Peter Ray Blood
(Source: http://www.guardian.co.tt/entertainment/2012-05-03/keep-pan-school. Accessed 5/4/12.)
What are your views? I have to agree with my cousin on this issue. Pan should be an entirely separate course, not just performance, but ALL that is attached to it - from flagperson to engine room to arranger, tuner, manufacturer, inventors, engineers, scientists, historians, business, unionism, etc. It should be a degree program all the way up to the PhD level, and persons like Othello, Boogsie, Robert, Jit, and others, should receive honorary doctorates in steelpan studies. Certain past pioneers, and current trailblazers, should also receive posthumous honorary degrees. Our national instrument has earned the right to be entered into the school curricula, from the primary level, all the way to the tertiary level. It also deserves the respect of both academia and government. That is my opinion.
BTW - The "uncle" to whom Peter referred, is, of course, George "Sonny" Goddard.
GHOST
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Another good and important article for discussions. In Trinidad,we came from the "Old School" where it was alright to just go in to a Pan Yard and learn to play by ear ( By Rote). Today we cannot subject the present and future generations to that same old school mentality especially when we now have a choice to offer music Literacy both in the Pan Yards and the public schools.. ( This really should not be an issue).
Lack of Music Literacy is one of the reasons why our beloved instrument and players in the past have not been readily accepted as a "True musical instrument" and "True musicians" even though the versatility of the instrument with its complete family of instruments from bass to soprano and comparable to strings and horns and even our players as virtuoso as they have been were looked at in awe of their profound skills ..but it would be followed with something like ..." but they cannot read music"...
This lack of musical Literacy has been a handicap and should be rectified with a proper musical literacy program for the Pan Yards and a dedicated and improved Steelpan music program embedded in the Public schools curriculum ( not an extra curricular activity and certainly not just preparing the students to play for the Junior Panorama competition). Trinidad & Tobago should be leading the way in this area in the Public schools of the Caribbean and the world. this is what the Government of T&T needs to do.
They need to have a vision that the Pan programs in the school will be on the same level as any other Academic subject and in a proper syllabus set up for examinations . This should be in the level as that of the CXC examinations for the Caribbean ( Carricom nations). This is indeed a genuine responsibility of the government. So I hope that my Government in T&T abandons this concept of diluting the Pan Program by mixing it up with this Multicultural Music Program.....
This Multicultural Music Program should be for all the other instruments including cuatro, tabla, harmonium, djimbe, ...etc..... But leave the Pan Alone ..it already has a complete family of Pans. It is becoming more and more obvious that we really need a Ministry exclusively for the Pan to protect, promote and develop this thing call PAN
Sela Wilson ah hear yuh,,i also have said and or have mentiontioned the said thing,,what kind of a Multicultural musicProgram,,we have always been fighting for the Steelpan and nothing else But the Steelpan,,,so ah gon support yuh and repeat wah yuh seh,,,,LEAVE THE PAN ALONE,,IT HAS IT,S COMPLETE FAMILY,the truth brother.God Bless.
"Caribbean steel drums are a fantastic resource for many reasons. Not only do they sound amazing and would provide another excellent ECA opportunity for gifted and talented musicians, but they can also be used in curriculum class work as a means of teaching the basic musical elements (pitch, timbre, tempo, rhythm, texture etc) and the essential skills of playing together as an ensemble"
The above is part of a paper from a school justifying the use of pan in the school. The school in question is not in Europe or North America. It is in the Middle East. Yes folks! I had the pleasure of starting a steel band in that school. Other schools in that part of the world are beginning to get involved now that we have an examination system to help project the pan on the same level as the piano, flute and other conventional instruments.
I also remember George Goddard. He came up to Arima several times during the formation of NATTS.
Below is information re our examination.
Terry Noel JP
Steelband Advisor.
Leader BT Melodians Steel Orchestra (UK)
Steel Pan Examinations
Graded examinations for steel pan are now available. These examinations have been developed by Dr Jill Scarfe of Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya and Terry Noel J.P. of the Steel Band Advisory Service of Great Britain (co-authors of “Play Pan”) in consultation with Robert Thompson, steel pan composer and arranger Trinidad, and David Griffiths, steel pan teacher and arranger, Great Britain. Grades 1 – 5 have been published and grades 6 – 8 will be available in the summer of 2012.
These examination grades have been endorsed by PRSSV Examination Board and validated by the Open College Network Credit4learning. PRSSV has been presenting examinations for Indian Music and Dance since 1986 and is concerned with the promotion of World Music genres and dedicated to the preservation and strengthening of these cultures, thus encouraging their development. OCN Credit4learning is licensed by the British government to validate examination courses and to moderate them. These examinations are QCA-accredited at three levels in the National Qualifications Framework: Grades 1–3 at Level 1 (Foundation: equivalent to GCSE grades D–G), Grades 4–5 at Level 2 (Intermediate: GCSE grades A*–C) and Grades 6–8 at Level 3 (Advanced: A-Level).
Copies of the syllabus are available on www.sangeet-examinations.co.uk/steelpan and samples of the examination pieces may be obtained by contacting info@prssv.com
Replies
Another good and important article for discussions. In Trinidad,we came from the "Old School" where it was alright to just go in to a Pan Yard and learn to play by ear ( By Rote). Today we cannot subject the present and future generations to that same old school mentality especially when we now have a choice to offer music Literacy both in the Pan Yards and the public schools.. ( This really should not be an issue).
Lack of Music Literacy is one of the reasons why our beloved instrument and players in the past have not been readily accepted as a "True musical instrument" and "True musicians" even though the versatility of the instrument with its complete family of instruments from bass to soprano and comparable to strings and horns and even our players as virtuoso as they have been were looked at in awe of their profound skills ..but it would be followed with something like ..." but they cannot read music"...
This lack of musical Literacy has been a handicap and should be rectified with a proper musical literacy program for the Pan Yards and a dedicated and improved Steelpan music program embedded in the Public schools curriculum ( not an extra curricular activity and certainly not just preparing the students to play for the Junior Panorama competition). Trinidad & Tobago should be leading the way in this area in the Public schools of the Caribbean and the world. this is what the Government of T&T needs to do.
They need to have a vision that the Pan programs in the school will be on the same level as any other Academic subject and in a proper syllabus set up for examinations . This should be in the level as that of the CXC examinations for the Caribbean ( Carricom nations). This is indeed a genuine responsibility of the government. So I hope that my Government in T&T abandons this concept of diluting the Pan Program by mixing it up with this Multicultural Music Program.....
This Multicultural Music Program should be for all the other instruments including cuatro, tabla, harmonium, djimbe, ...etc..... But leave the Pan Alone ..it already has a complete family of Pans. It is becoming more and more obvious that we really need a Ministry exclusively for the Pan to protect, promote and develop this thing call PAN
Salah
Sela Wilson ah hear yuh,,i also have said and or have mentiontioned the said thing,,what kind of a Multicultural musicProgram,,we have always been fighting for the Steelpan and nothing else But the Steelpan,,,so ah gon support yuh and repeat wah yuh seh,,,,LEAVE THE PAN ALONE,,IT HAS IT,S COMPLETE FAMILY,the truth brother.God Bless.
.
"Caribbean steel drums are a fantastic resource for many reasons. Not only do they sound amazing and would provide another excellent ECA opportunity for gifted and talented musicians, but they can also be used in curriculum class work as a means of teaching the basic musical elements (pitch, timbre, tempo, rhythm, texture etc) and the essential skills of playing together as an ensemble"
The above is part of a paper from a school justifying the use of pan in the school. The school in question is not in Europe or North America. It is in the Middle East. Yes folks! I had the pleasure of starting a steel band in that school. Other schools in that part of the world are beginning to get involved now that we have an examination system to help project the pan on the same level as the piano, flute and other conventional instruments.
I also remember George Goddard. He came up to Arima several times during the formation of NATTS.
Below is information re our examination.
Terry Noel JP
Steelband Advisor.
Leader BT Melodians Steel Orchestra (UK)
Steel Pan Examinations
Graded examinations for steel pan are now available. These examinations have been developed by Dr Jill Scarfe of Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya and Terry Noel J.P. of the Steel Band Advisory Service of Great Britain (co-authors of “Play Pan”) in consultation with Robert Thompson, steel pan composer and arranger Trinidad, and David Griffiths, steel pan teacher and arranger, Great Britain. Grades 1 – 5 have been published and grades 6 – 8 will be available in the summer of 2012.
These examination grades have been endorsed by PRSSV Examination Board and validated by the Open College Network Credit4learning. PRSSV has been presenting examinations for Indian Music and Dance since 1986 and is concerned with the promotion of World Music genres and dedicated to the preservation and strengthening of these cultures, thus encouraging their development. OCN Credit4learning is licensed by the British government to validate examination courses and to moderate them. These examinations are QCA-accredited at three levels in the National Qualifications Framework: Grades 1–3 at Level 1 (Foundation: equivalent to GCSE grades D–G), Grades 4–5 at Level 2 (Intermediate: GCSE grades A*–C) and Grades 6–8 at Level 3 (Advanced: A-Level).
Copies of the syllabus are available on www.sangeet-examinations.co.uk/steelpan and samples of the examination pieces may be obtained by contacting info@prssv.com