-Pan Minors Literacy Programme concludes
Republic Bank’s RightStart Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme for 2011 concluded yesterday with a ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston.
The programme, a collaborative venture between the Bank and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, aims at developing the steel pan art form, while providing youths with an opportunity to have fun, develop self-discipline, and be part of a team effort.
The workshop was conducted from July 11 to 29, aided by eight instructors, while 115 youths from Regions 4, 6 and 10 participated in the three-week programme.
Corporate and Management Services- Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, General Manager Denise Hobbs, said, “The Republic Bank RightStart Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme is yet another initiative that helps us to realise our vision of ‘Making a Difference’, and was introduced as part of our Power to Make a Difference community initiative, where we sought to ignite the power to learn and succeed”.
Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Music Development Unit Head, Andrew Tyndall, remarked that this year, the programme was divided into two levels, the Beginners Class, which focused on the theory of music and playing the steel pan, and the Intermediate Class for pupils who are active players, and was geared towards improving their skills and refining their playing techniques.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Alfred King, stated that the ministry is proud of the programme and that over the past several years there has been a tremendous decline in steel pan music. He said it is a tradition which many would not want to see disappear, hence, it called for a restoration in steel pan playing.
King said his ministry went to Buxton and Tiger Bay with their partners to engage the youths in the activity which has been ongoing.
He further stated that the ministry would like to use music as an outreach tool to youths in communities so that they can participate in a meaningful activity. (GINA)