(Continued from yesterday)
One of the big successes of the Music Schools in the Community programme is that it enables elders, parents, children and community members to come together in fellowship, to enjoy camaraderie, play music, and learn from each other.About 70 per cent of participating students are school age; the rest are adults, including some senior citizens, said Damien Richardson, Cultural Officer 2, who oversees the programme.
Lennox Sebro is the co-ordinator for the programme at the Casablanca Steel Orchestra venue in Belmont. When the Music Schools in Communities programme started in 2012, Casablanca embraced it with open arms. Sebro, in a telephone interview, said he loved the way the programme has engaged and connected the community in his area:
"The programme has done a lot for the community by encouraging relationships. Families get acquainted with each other and the children are enthusiastic. We have both young and older people with music skills who previously hadn't had an opportunity to use them. The programme helps connect them."
Ian Clark, the steelband liaison officer at the Culture Division who co-ordinates activities for the programme, agrees. He commented:
"Many adults have participated. Families, too–sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, elders–all took part. I remember in Exodus, there were three students over age 60. In Couva Joylanders school, there were two other adults over age 60." At the same time, there have been students so young, they've had to stand on boxes to reach the pans, said Damien Richardson, cultural officer 2, who oversees the entire programme at the Culture Division.
"It's a wonderful programme, and I only wish it could be year-round," said Sebro. He shared that Casablanca runs music classes on its own steam after the annual state-sponsored music education semester ends. Sebro said Casablanca does this with the help of generous volunteer tutors such as Petal Pereira and Noel Skair, who have been teaching youth music theory since 2013.
From therapy to pride
Derrick Sharbodie is the well-known policeman who founded the St James Police Youth Club in 1992–one of the most vibrant in T&T. The Petit Valley club has well over 200 members and provides valuable mentoring, homework help, remedial classes and activities from judo to drumming to help at-risk youth.
The club has long offered its own music classes in steelpan, recognising that music is not only a gainful occupation, but also provides therapy and an affirming, creative form of self-expression. So when the Music Schools in the Community programme was offered to the club, they eagerly accepted.
"Our club has received national recognition from winning the 2013 Drums of Thunder competition in Brooklyn, New York," said Sharbodie. (Drums of Thunder is an all-day African drumming festival in New York City, open to African diaspora drummers. Rev Andy Edwards, leader of the Brotherhood of Man Spiritual Baptist/Orisha Church, founded it.)
"This recognition has led to different groups, such as the Emancipation Support group and some embassies, asking us to perform...When we became part of the Music Schools in the Community programme, there was a high level of interest from the youth. They were keen on learning brass–that was big. Students also learned practicals and theory of playing in a steel orchestra."
He said more boys (aged 14-21) than girls took up the programme at the St James Youth Club. And for those boys, it was empowering: "Having their own instrument gave them a sense of personal responsibility. Learning to play it gave them a sense of achievement. If the tutor wasn't there, the boys would still gather to practise on their own."
"Tutors were excellent: very patient and innovative, especially dealing with the at-risk kids, some of whom had dropped out of school," said Sharbodie of the programme. He recalled: "Roy Cape came and did a presentation on himself, which opened the kids' appetite to learn, and encouraged their parents to support the programme. The chance to gain certificates and achieve music grades added an incentive to learn," he added.
"The music school in communities idea came at the right time," said Sharbodie, emphasising: "We need to sustain programmes like this."
More than music
"More than music is happening here," said Damien Richardson of the programme."What continues to work well, and be the ultimate payoff, is to see the relationship between the young people and their instruments, and the young people and their families, and the young people and their tutors. Young people might have a trumpet or flute in their hands, and they often do not want to put it down on the day of the final recital, because they feel such a sense of accomplishment," said Richardson.
"And then you see the bonding ...some tutors and organisers cry during the (end-of-programme) recital."
He gave the example of Steven Villafana, a former policeman, who taught brass (trumpet and trombone) in two venues last year, St Mary's Home and Golden Hands in south. After the recital in St Mary's, said Richardson, when refreshments were served, half the children automatically chose to sit around Villafana to eat–they didn't want to be separated from him. In Golden Hands in South, the bonding was so strong that students gave their tutor a gift from their own funds; and Villafana bought a trombone for his best student.
Peter Aleong, pan tutor, who taught at Exodus and the St James Youth Club, is also popular among students, said Richardson. After another recital last year, Richardson recalled a 14-year-old student who wanted to express his gratitude for Aleong's tuition and guidance, but just couldn't find the words; so he simply hugged him instead.
Said Richardson:
"It's about more than the minim and the crotchet and the semibreve. It's people touching people's lives–both ways."