Steel pan players tune skills

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:01 by GxMedia

One hundred and fifty young people from across Guyana benefitted from learning and developing the necessary skills required for playing the steelpan through an initiative by Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited.

Titled the Republic Bank RightStart Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme 2013, it was conducted from July 08 – 25, 2013. The workshops were held in Regions 4, 5, 6 and 10 and facilited by six instructors.

“As usual, the focus of the programme included steel pan history, music theory, techniques of playing and steel band arrangement,” the bank said in a statement.

Republic Bank (Guyana) explained that were part of the following three levels:

·        Level One – first time participants.

·        Level Two – participants who have been playing for six months to a year.

·        Level Three – participants who have been playing for over two years and was geared towards improving
         their skills and refining their playing techniques.

The programme concluded with a special ceremony on Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 15:30h at the Grand Savannah Suite, Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown where the Georgetown participants received their certificates and provided entertainment. The participants in other parts of the country received their certificates at their respective closing sessions.  

The ceremony included a Feature Address by the Mr. Alfred King, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport with programme overview delivered by Mr. Andrew Tyndall, Head of the Ministry’s Music Development Unit.

This initiative, a collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport was first introduced to Guyana in 2010 as part of the ‘Power to Make a Difference’ initiative for several years. A similar programme is hosted annually by Republic Bank Trinidad and dates back to 1996. “Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited continues to strive for the sustainment of the steel pan art form in Guyana, which provides youths with another avenue to showcase their talent,” the financial institution said in a statement.