St.
Joseph, Trinidad & Tobago
- Panadigm
Innovations Ltd (PIL), makers
of the Percussive Harmonic Instrument
(P.H.I.) and G-pan announced
the handing over of two P.H.I.s
to St Xavier’s Private School,
St. Joseph.
The P.H.I. is the very first
“electronic pan” ever created
and patented. It is what is
known in the music world as
a MIDI controller; however,
it has a physical form inspired
by the ingenuity of the traditional
steelpan. MIDI controllers allow
musicians to utilize equipment
on a MIDI digital network to
create, perform and manipulate
music. Through MIDI, the P.H.I.
provides the panist with access
to a limitless range of instrument
tones, including steelpan, piano,
sitar as well as a range of
percussion tones including a
“trini percussion” tone set
specially designed by PIL for
the PHI. The panist plays these
tones on a full three octaves
of notes laid out on the familiar
cycle of the 4ths and 5ths,
commonly used on the tenor steelpan. Note shapes, locations and sizes
are ergonomically designed and
notes can be transposed anywhere
in the musical range allowing
the musician to easily switch
from a tenor steelpan to a double
second, cello, guitar or bass.
All of this takes place on a
single bowl or “drum” making
the P.H.I. a highly portable
instrument when compared to
the traditional steelpan.
Representative of Panadigm
Innovations Ltd. hand over
P.H.I.s to St. Xavier’s
Private School
On the 22nd March, 2010 St.
Xavier’s Private school became
the first school in Trinidad
and Tobago to purchase the world’s
newest instrument the P.H.I.,
from Panadigm Innovations
Ltd. The company introduced the students
to the instruments at a workshop
facilitated by Earle Philip,
one of the instrument’s inventors,
on October 14th 2009. As the
steelpan is a part of their
music curriculum at St Xavier’s,
students were able to easily
transfer their knowledge of
steelpan performance to the
PHI. The strong music curriculum
at the school has also resulted
in many of its alumni playing
for junior or large steelbands
throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
Principal Sister Annetta
Alexander looks on as a
student plays the instrument
for the first time
Based on the overwhelming response
and enthusiasm shown by the
students, the principal, Sister
Annetta Alexander, placed her
order for two P.H.I.s.
PIL must commend St. Xavier’s
Private School for being a true
leader in education, as demonstrated
by the principal’s efforts at developing
the mechanisms and infrastructure
to consistently produce well
rounded students. PIL is thankful
to St. Xavier’s for taking the
lead role in adopting this new
paradigm in steelpan, one that
is completely in line with the
modern digital age, for its
music programme. PIL is certain
that many schools will follow
their lead and provide their
students with tools such as
the P.H.I. to enhance learning.
More information on the P.H.I.
can be obtained at PIL’s website
at
www.panadigm.com, from
Facebook by searching P.H.I.
– Percussive Harmonic Instrument.
From the
news desk of P.H.I. News.