Great things are happening in the "Mecca of Pan" down in the south lands. In an attempt to ensure one of its objectives–strengthening families–is met and maintained, Golden Hands, a non-profit youth organisation, last month added yet another success story to its already enviable 17-year reputation when it launched its second two-week Parental Pan Workshop at its panyard.
Parent/child pan teams
With the workshop's theme taken from its 2010 winning Panorama rendition, Dingolay, the belief is that anybody could dingolay, even, "If yuh clothes tear up, or yuh shoes buss up," as coined by calypsonian Winston "Shadow" Bailey. And director of the organisation, Vanessa Hills-Headley invited parents to join the fun. "Instead of parents dropping and picking up their children like a nursery, why not come and join, and be a part of the team alongside them."
She said many parents had no idea what the pannists experienced to perfect a piece of music. The event began with an introduction by the organisation's public relations officer and events manager, 18-year-old Joshua Charles, and moved smoothly into an invocation by another teenage executive member. All new pannists, except one, admitted it was the first time they touched the instrument. They said they felt honoured to be a part of the event and said it was a great idea to have them partner with their children.
The art of playing pan
Among the specially invited guests were education officer of Pan Trinbago, Withfield Weekes, and life skills consultant, Sandra Blood. Weekes admirably expressed his affiliation with the organisation from its inception, and recalled what the organisation was, in comparison to what it had become. He said it had evolved into a remarkable product. He stressed that a lot of good could be derived from the smallest space through pan, and urged the organisation to continue on its journey of education.
Blood congratulated the group and informed them of how proud she felt back in the 1970s to have begun playing pan at a time when many scorned the instrument. She highlighted the importance of developing proper playing techniques in mastering the art. "Because it is pan–pulsating, amazing and noble–it's the more reason why we must bring ourselves in alignment with the standard of Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Mantovani, where billion-dollar endorsements will be made upon performances," she said.
"Whereby it is vitally important to be cognisant of where pan came from, it is also vitally important to show where it has reached, and can reach through significantly enhancing our levels and qualities of delivery and behaviour on or off the pan compounds. "If you know you are engaging in questionable behaviour or instigating any, then do not think of aligning yourself with the instrument, and if you have, then remove."
"It is necessary to pay close attention to legacy, branding and reputation. Introduce and live proper core values," she advised. Blood urged Pan Trinbago to bring all the instruments to a standard where the world will come to the "Mecca of pan" and ask us, "What are you all doing down there that's making your instruments sound so great?"