I am a music teacher stationed in North Miami and currently at home for the next two months wasting talent and time. I have a small kids' steel ensemble but because school is out, the instruments are packed away and the kids are home also wasting talent and time. I was recently offered more instruments but unfortunately I may have no where to house them as the space I currently use is not mine. I have written a few people who work for the city of North Miami and below is my communication to them. I know that this website has many followers and I am hoping that you would be able to help me in terms of networking for ideas and support for this project.Good afternoon Mr. Galvin, my name is Elizabeth Flocker-Aming. I am the music director of the steel drum band that was featured on NBC news last year. Although I was surplussed and transferred from one school to another, I still continued my after school music program at Natural Bridge where my instruments are still stored. Sad to say, 11 out of 12 of my band members graduated from Natural Bridge are moving on to various middle schools. I have been thinking of ways to keep the band together by opening a music school at a central location in North Miami, as these are very talented musicians. So far due to monetary constraints, nothing is affordable. Currently as a ten-month employee for Miami Dade County Schools I am at home with nothing to do until August 18th. The students are also at home with no productive activities beside watching TV and playing video games--both a waste of talent and time.Just yesterday I was offered a set of steel drums that may possibly be given as a donation or for a highly-reduced price to my program. If given these drums I will be able to facilitate at least 20 children, which would be a pretty impressive and powerful band.My only concern is that apart from the pod that I share with another teacher (in terms of space), I have no where to place these extra instruments when I get them. I wanted to start a North Miami after school music program for "at risk" kids but never got this off the ground. I believe that this is the best time to go after this dream as I now will have sufficient instruments for a solid program. I am willing to start such a program this summer if given the support and facility to work in.My music students have received exposure from playing at the Annual Miami Thanksgiving parade, the North Miami Beach for the lighting of the Christmas Tree, as guests of the City of Miami Gardens. They also preformed at the Viscaya Botanical Gardens for Homeland Security, for the School Board, at the North Miami Beach Library, for the Lions Club (North Miami), at the Panamanian American Association of Florida banquet and for the Spanish Monastery; Saint Bernard de Clairvuax and most recently for the Florida Democratic Party for their Jefferson Jackson Dinner Fund raiser where they met/were introduced to several senators as well as the Mayor of North Miami.I was thinking of asking the city of Miami for a facility to host an after school program as a non-for-profit organization. As a certified K-6 teacher I can also tutor math, reading, language arts and writing as part of the program (coupled with the music).I can write a grant if needed and I have done the research that shows the effect of an after school music program on at risk students. I believe that this program would bring out the silent talent of our under-represented population here in North Miami.Please direct me if possible to the right network that would be able to assist me in making this vision a reality. I have video clips of my current students performing upon request.
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THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO DEFENCE FORCE STEEL ORCHESTRATHE ONLY MARCHING MILITARY STEEL ORCHESTRA OF THE WORLDThe Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra was formed in June 1995, under the guidance of Warrant Officer Class 1 Earl Wright (deceased) and Sergeant Cecil James (retired) on the initiative of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Carl C.A. Alfonso. The first leader of the steel orchestra was Sergeant Cecil James (retired).The first major undertaking was in July of the same year, when the band participated in the National Pan Ramajay Competition, placing fifth out of ten finalists.In 1996 the Orchestra entered the ‘Pan Is Beautiful’ Music Festival as a conventional band and did quite well, winning the prize for the best calypso and placing third overall. The rest of the year was spent doing charity engagements both for service personnel and civilians.The year 1997 started off very successfully for the orchestra, with a first attempt at the National Panorama; competition for traditional steel orchestras, it placed first playing “Mirror Mirror”, a tune composed by calypsonian “Crazy” and arranged by Eddie Qualess, a renowned musical arranger. In June of that year the orchestra was invited by the 33rd Regiment French Forces in the Antilles to perform at their 1st anniversary celebrations in Martinique, this was the first in what has now become an annual event for the orchestra, having returned in 1998, 1999 and 2000.Between the years 1997 and 1999 the band participated in the St. Peter’s Day competition in the Traditional Band category and achieved a hat-trick playing ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ and ‘Blessed Assurance’ respectively, all songs arranged by Robert Tobitt, a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra.As a result of the bands”’ outstanding performance they were invited to perform at the internationally acclaimed Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1997. The orchestra became the only marching military steel orchestra in the world, performing nightly for an audience of over ten thousand. The outcome was an outstanding success. The band also became the first steel orchestra to lead an armed contingent of troops on a ceremonial parade, when on it’s return from Scotland it made it’s first appearance on the annual Independence Anniversary Parade. More success came in 1998 when the orchestra having entered the Music Festival for a second time as a conventional band, emerged joint winners.In November 1999 the orchestra was invited to perform at the Anzac Military Tattoo in Sydney Australia, where it rendered another creditable performance. In the year 2000 the orchestra placed first in the Traditional bands category, when it rendered “The Road” Arranged by Robert Tobitt. ‘A Tribute to Aldwin Roberts’ The Lord Kitchener, one of Trinidad and Tobago most outstanding Calypsoians. A sure sign that the orchestra is indeed a force to be reckon with.The Steel Orchestra performed in Antigua in November 2003 at the MOODS OF PAN Festival. This also saw the orchestra being invited again to Antigua to take part in their annual Independence celebrations on 02 November.The orchestra placed 3rd at the Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama competition in February 2004.In June 2004 the orchestra participated at the 33rd Regiment Forces in the Antilles, another great success for the members.In June 2005 the band performed at the World Steel band Music Festival which was held in Madison Square Garden, New York, placing 3rd.In July 2005 the orchestra performed again at the internationally acclaimed Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The outcome was another outstanding success which saw the orchestra being invited to attend again in 2007.In November 2005 the band performed in Malta at the Commonwealth Resounds, where the citizens of Malta gave a standing ovation for every performance of the TTDF Steel Orchestra.The orchestra played in Washington DC at the request of the Delaware National Guard in April 2006. T & T Military Attache to Washington, Lt Col Phillip Spencer, coordinated the visit. Members of the band became honorary citizens of the City of Baltimore.The orchestra placed 3rd at the Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama Steel band competition in February 2006.In June 2006 the orchestra formed part of a national contingent to perform at the World Cup 2006 in Germany. The members played in Nuremburg, Kaiserslautern and Dortmund something that left all Germans spellbound to this day.In October 2006 the orchestra performed at the 25th Independence of Antigua.2007 Performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland, 2008 Royal Nova Scotia Military Tattoo and Basil International Tattoo in Switzerland.May, 2009 the Orchestra performed in England at the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo at which Her Majesty The Queen was present.At present the management team of the band compromises of Major Roger Best (Officer In Charge), Warrant Officer 2 Robert Tobitt (Manager /Musical Director), Sergeant Junior Stevenson (Senior NCO in charge of Orchestra) and Cpl Frederick Dennie ( Logistic Officer)
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