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Sweet Pan
Our standard three classes were interested in the national instrument the steelpan. We all knew what the instrument was, and enjoyed listening to it especially at Carnival time when Steelpan Orchestras competed for the top spot at the National Panorama Competition. We visited Pandemonium Panyard, BP Renegades Panyard and St. Margaret’s Boys Anglican Primary School. Here are some of the questions we asked at these places located right in Belmont.
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Pandemonium Panyard
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The ministry of culture was conducting a pan tuning workshop for members of different bands at this panyard. We never really understood what it was all about until we saw how a pan was tuned. We looked on in amazement as the pan tuner used a special hammer to get the perfect pitch of a particular note. We got a history lesson, a math lesson and a music lesson all rolled into one. All of this was going on right in our own backyard just a few streets away from our school.
We asked : Can we make a living from tuning pans ?
Answer: Most certainly. One of the pannists told us that the demand for making and tuning pans is much greater than we can supply. So there is a lot of money to be made from a career in steelpan. |
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St Margaret’s Boys Anglican Primary School - a school from our area, that has a pan programme from infants to standard five, as well as for past students. |
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We asked: How has playing steelpan affected the student’s lives?
Answer: They were more disciplined and focused in class. Playing the instrument actually helped them with their school work. They learnt not to give up and enjoyed the rewards of their determination. Their school has won the Junior Panorama competition four times, and they have traveled to the U.S. and Mexico.
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The Melodious sound of St. Margaret's Boy's Anglican Steel Orchestra Playing 'Ben Lion' by 3-Canal |
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BP Renegades Panyard.- This band has won Panorama a record nine times.
We asked: How has the band influenced the community?
Answer: The band has helped a lot of young people stay off the streets, out of gangs, and in school. The dedication that is required to play in the band steadied many young ones as they united side by side for the common goal of being the top Steelpan Orchestra in the land every year.
We learnt a lot. The best part was getting to play on some of the instruments that were being tuned and listening to a school steelband play beautiful music. We all want to learn how to play the steelpan now and we feel proud to know that great things are happening right here within our community. |
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