THE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, in collaboration with Republic Bank Guyana Limited, launched its ‘Right Start Pan Minors Music Literacy Camp’ to nurture the musical talents of the nation’s youth.

This endeavour consists of six camps in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Each camp can facilitate up to 35 participants.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) ventured to Linden to experience the musical renditions by the budding artists.
The youngest in the programme is eight-year-old Aden Adams, who welcomes the exposure to music.

“It teaches me a whole other level of music, and because I have a big band of friends, they can help me learn new notes and new stuff. I feel happy, because, if my brother and I were not here, Amar and me would’ve been just stuck at home, doing nothing. So I am happy that it is here, so we all could play steelpan,” Aden said.

Fourteen-year-old Akira Campbell related, “I wanted to come to this programme, because I get to broaden my horizons. Because, as you know, there is different pans; I wanted to try something new, and share my passion with others. This is a great initiative of the government, because it will basically spread awareness. Because, I am pretty sure that most people don’t know about steelpan, and I am really glad to see that we have a lot of people here, just having fun and playing together. I would like to thank the instructor; he was patient with us, and he just always there to help us.”

Eleven-year-old Renola Jeffery said, “Growing up, I always had a passion for music, and I always watched on television people playing steelpan. So now, this is my first time getting a chance to play the steelpan.”

With its rich cultural roots embedded in the Caribbean region, the steelpan is an iconic musical instrument that has captivated audiences worldwide.

Through this programme, the ministry aspires to instill a love for the distinctive art, and create a platform for the next generation of steelpan players.
The training provides a stepping stone for budding musicians, offering them the opportunity to learn the art of playing the steelpan, and grasping the essential elements of music theory.
The camp will conclude on August 11.