Jamani Stewart was introduced to the Steelpans at a very young age, due to the fact his dad "Jamma" played the Steelpans, and had first hand experience of the benefits of playing music from a young age, felt it inessential to pass on the skills to his Children.
By time Jamani was 11 months old he was making his own beat box rhythms with his mouth, what was so amazing was the fact his rhythmic timing of his beats were so interesting & creative and steady to the beat, and this was before he could talk.
As time went on Jamani "the same as most babies love tapping beats on the tables and walls and was showing a great interest to music. Mom and Dad would encourage Jamani and his sister Rochella using spoons as sticks have little jam sessions on pots and pans, basins, they loved hearing the different tones that could be produced using simple house hold materials as instruments.
At two years old Jamani was brought a little plastic drum kit to channel his drumming skills, and save our walls, and furniture from being marked up. As he developed his skills he was encouraged to play in church.
At three years old he did his first public performance at the Jamma Caribbean musical
extravaganzer, held at the Midlands Art Centre Cannon Hill Park Birmingham,.It was amazing to see that in front of appropriately two and half thousand people he did not show a hint of nervousness.
Throughout all this time Jamani was always hearing his dad practice and doing shows on the Steelpans. Both Jamani and Rochella were allowed to play the pans once they learned the instrument had to be played softly and gracefully.
Rochella Stewart learning how to play softly.
Once leant how to play softly they could do little exercises to develop pitch and melodies , as time went on we found Jamani would gravitate to the pan's more, and started teaching himself simple melodies like, Happy birthday, when the saints, go marching in, pink panther and many more tunes.
After seeing all these signs of musical ability at 6 years old dad could see it was time to start developing his repertoire, starting with songs like what a friend we have in Jesus, and brushing up on songs like when the saints, as well as others, it was soon time for him to start gigging.
His Mom Angela made him his first costume, and he was more than ready to hit the stage.
Jamani at 7 years old was proving to be very comfortable on stage .
To view a live performance of 7 year old Jamani performing at the Merryhill Shopping Centre please click on link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGscGPoK-7w
As time went on He would do regular solo performance at church and various functions, developing a wider verity of music at a young age proved to be more rewarding. He would also do regular performance with dad this help to develop things like improvising and ear training.
We soon found out he had the gift of perfect pitch and could mimic phrase's instantly. to view live video of Jamani & Dad performing together please click on link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COGkVVjPe58&feature=related
Sometimes Jamani would be a bit shy to the real discipline it takes to learn a piece to performance standard so sometimes at rehearsals if dad was looking the other way he would make a run for it, upstairs or out the back door, and would love when dad had to chase and catch him and bring him back to the pan. But we took are time just learning a little more each day, we could defiantly see the repertoire growing to the extent were he was performing more solo gigs at schools and various functions,He was also developing the skill of addressing his audience in a more professional way.
By time jamani was 9 years old he had developed an extrourdanary gift to play jazz music and improvise he also new exactly when the song was going to finish.
Check out 9 year old Jamani playing now is the time "Jazz piece by Charlie Parker"
to view click link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwOTP7keFYk&feature=related
When his dad founded the Birmingham school of pan, to teach local children the art of playing the steelpans, Jamani and Rochella would love to perform along side there friends in various carnivals.Playing in the blazing sun the hours were long and tiring but the sound of the steelpan kept them going.
Playing in the band gives members a chance to meet celebrities, pictured here is Rochella and Jamani after a performance at the Birmingham Symphony hall with TV star Rudoplh Walker (Patrick ) from East Enders
For more information on Steelbands for workshops/performances please visit
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/introduction-to-the-steelpan-4076451.html#ixzz1BmTHVceb
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Comments