ANSA McAl Trading Limited (AMTL), on Tuesday last, conducted a two-day music workshop in which two Trinidadian music experts, Roy Cape of the Roy Cape All Star Band and Daryl Braxton, Cultural Ambassador were invited to interact and train local musicians, who turned out in their numbers at the SideWalk Café, Middle Street, Georgetown.

The two-day music workshop was designed to further enhance music in Guyana and all musicians were encouraged to participate in an effort to assist them in perfecting their craft.
AMTL Marketing Director, Troy Cadogan told reporters that  as part of AMTL 20th Anniversary celebrations, the company decided to host a two-day Music Workshop designed to further enhance music in Guyana.
He added that the company sponsored the Carib Soca Monarch activities for a number of years and one of their objectives is to improve the standard of local soca music in Guyana since they have recognized there are some shortfalls and would like to assist the locals to become better musicians.
Cadogan explained that this is their seventh year and felt that they did not produce the required amount of musicians that they can compete with on the international market.
He noted that their target goal is to improve the Carib Soca Monarch competition not only by sponsorship but by doing more and thought that if they got an insight on how they actually compose and develop music they can assist.
As such, Cadogan said they brought the right people from Trinidad, Roy Cape and Daryl Braxton, to hold a music workshop to enlighten the locals here.
Cadogan also told reporters he was very pleased with the turnout as he looked around the room on Tuesday at SideWalk Café.
He added that they would also be sponsoring a jazz concert this weekend all in an effort to enhance music here with the locals.
Roy Cape, in a brief comment, said that about a month ago he was performing with several artistes including Destra, Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons and there was Nigel Worrel of AMTL who asked him to come to Guyana. As the time got closer, Cape said he also recommended Daryl Braxton for the music workshop.
Braxton told reporters that when he got the ‘call’ from Roy Cape, he was excited since he is the music teacher and accepted the request to come to Guyana to enhance music.
Due to his deep love for and of music, Braxton said  he came with the idea that even if one person leave at the end of the workshop he would be happy since they are here to both learn and teach from the locals.
He stated that he is about spreading music around the world and, from talking to Nigel Worrell, he got the impression that the Soca scene in Guyana is ‘not so much on top’ and would like it to break into the international market.
Braxton said: “From what I heard so far, soca music got a better understanding of the kind of music being produced here – to impart knowledge.”
He continued: “It is simply getting back to the basics by showing simple ways to improve their song writing skills so that they can stand out.”
Roy Cape has been in the music business for 54 years, not for glory or honour but simply the love of music. Nevertheless, he was awarded on October 29, 2010 by the University of West Indies with the Honorary Doctorate of Letters, and in Trinidad in 2004 he was awarded a Hummingbird Gold Medal for his contribution to music in that country.
On Wednesday last, a Barbadian musician, Arturo Tappin, was present for the AMTL music workshop in which he enlighten the locals of the technical aspects of using the musical instruments.