BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER four weeks of hard work and dedication, 51 children have successfully graduated from the Fife, Banjo, Quatro and Guitar Workshop that was held by Winston ‘Zack’ Nisbett, the known to many as the Cultural Doctor.
A small ceremony held Saturday (Aug. 27) at the Caribe Cafe, Sands Complex saw the students being presented with certificates of participation in the presence of their parents, other family members and friends.
Specially invited guests included the Managing Director of Delisle Walwyn, Denzil Crooke; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Osmond Petty; former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Lloyd Lazaar; and Donald Cable who all spoke on behalf of Nisbett, expressing how pleased they are with the work he is doing.
Nisbett described the workshop as simply “incredible and far reaching”.
Prior to the distribution of certificates, each student presented to the audience a sample of what they learned over the past four weeks.
Pieces such as ‘Across the Bridge’, ‘When the Saints go Marching In’, and 1 2 3 Roll Back let me See’ were played on the various instruments.
The students were taught by a number of musically-talented persons including former calypsonian Mowbray Phillip and former Defence Force member Patrick O’Loughlin.
During the course of the programme, Nisbett took a number of prominent individuals in the Federation, including Carlton Duponte and Superintendent Franklin ‘Weatherman’ Dorsette, to speak to the children to not only help them instrumentally but to leave them with sound words of advice that can be applied to all aspects of their lives.
Their words did not fall on deaf ears as, in speaking with the children, they recalled a few things that have stuck with them including “Live a life of simplicity”, “There are better things out there in life”, “Let men know their place” and “You cannot be in the bad group, tell yourself ‘I want to be something good’”.
The workshop was the sixth to be held over a 15-year period and will continue as an annual event catering to children from as young as three years old up to 14.
The Delisle Walwyn-sponsored workshop began on August 3 with some 40 children learning about and how to play the Guitar, Quatro, Fife, the Tenor Banjo and the Ukulele Banjo. However, as the workshop progressed, it attracted 11 more children.
Nisbett indicated that he would be hosting another workshop later this year with hopes of having at least three in the coming year.
