Princes
Town, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I.
- “Never Give Up” was
simply the tune of choice played
on the country’s national instrument
(steelpan) by the Graduating
Class of 2010 at the Princes
Town Methodist School, in South
Trinidad.
Princes Town Methodist SEA
Graduating Class of 2010
Steelband
Only a few weeks prior the
panists had gone through the
rigors of SEA (Secondary
Examination Assessment) and were
ready to engage in light
discourse. The precedent having
been set by
their predecessors in 2009
meant they were quite ready for
the challenge.
The Yolanda Adams selection
“Never Give
Up” was the suggestion of
the class teacher, Ms. Smith,
who sold the idea to pan tutor
Noel Skair.
Graduation Class of 2010, Princes Town Methodist School
The piece was indeed a challenge
but the ace music instructor who
remains passionate about the
steelpan art form decided to
marry the steelband with vocals
in a rather short space of time.
The said title,
Never Give
Up, was also chosen as
the theme of the graduating
class. Skair firmly believes
that students must “never give
up” and this attitude must
transcend ‘pandom’ into
academia.
Students dance at 2010 graduation
According to Skair “the Pan in
the Classroom Project” has come
a long way since its
introduction to the school in
April, 2009 via the Ministry of
Education. The entire
school is exposed to the
programme and since then the
students have improved in their
academics. In addition it had
developed their Retention Level.
Students play national
anthem with pan tutor Noel
Skair
In a short but meaningful
discourse with Skair, Hollis
Clifton asked: “why isn’t
there a steelpan ensemble
emerging from the crème de la
crème from amongst all the
classes in the Pan in School
Project?” Skair iterated
that the program was not
designed for that, i.e.
according to the project
concept.
Then a review of the program’s
goals becomes the more
pertinent, reflected Clifton, a
former manager of the
Pleasantville Senior
Comprehensive School Steelband
in the 1980s and 1990s. The
period gave prominence to the
likes of then-young arrangers
such as Ken “Professor” Philmore
and the emergence of the likes
of Darren Sheppard, Dwight
Belgrove, Roger Charles, Liam
Teague, Sean Ramsey et al.
It is common knowledge that a
musical entity is always needed
to fulfill engagements at school
functions and other occasions.
It also serves a two-tier
purpose since it gives impetus
for all the expending at
practice sessions, not
forgetting the boost to student
self-esteem.
In retort Skair’s view was that
there was a disconnect between
the school syllabus and the
immediate objectives of the Pan
in the School Project, where the
intent is to teach music
literacy (theory) with the
steelpan as the instrument.
It is meant to be a foundation
for elementary music, not grades
just yet.
Left up to the students, they
are in their glee if they
recognize a nursery rhyme or any
other piece they are playing.
However, for the graduating
class Principal Mc Lean made it
mandatory for them to play at
least one tune at their own
graduation.
The principal’s address was
delivered by Ms. Carla Mc Lean
while the feature address was
delivered by Probation Officer
Ms. Frances Turton.
by
Hollis Clifton
Educator
pandiaspora@gmail.com
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