BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – EXCITED children, proud parents, lovers of the arts, the Hon. Marcella Liburd and officials of the Department of Culture gathered at the Old Boys School yesterday (June 3) for the 2010 staging of Heart Beat.
This year’s Heart Beat was promoted to sensitise people about some of the issues that affect children and to show how the musical art form of drumming can help children to deal with some of their challenges.
A variety of drumming styles were presented by students of the Beach Allen, Irish Town, Tucker Clarke, Dr. William Connor, Dean Glasford and the Special Education Unit.
The students began preparing for the annual event that started some 10 years ago under the leadership of drumming specialist Royd Phipps.
Speaking with Phipps following the successful event that lasted for about two hours, he said that they really wanted to emphasise the benefits of drumming by using the opportunity to highlight some of the issues using the drums.
Just before each school began drumming, a teacher spoke on an issue that affects children and also adults, which include obesity, drug abuse, honesty, education, anger management. They also stated that drumming could be used as a form of exercise.
“It was a wonderful evening; all the schools did well and I am looking forward to working with them for next year,” Phipps said.
During each school’s performance, the participants were directed by an individual who had been working with them since January in preparation for the annual event.
The music was enticing and had caused many persons in the audience to bob their heads and tap their feet to the sounds.
Phipps said that the sound of drums could be irresistible to many people as they are to him, each time he plays.
“It’s just the passion for the drums…the positive music, positive lifestyle; it’s something I can’t resist. And for me, it’s so important to keep the art form alive and keep it going,” he said.
Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Social Services and Culture Sharon Rattan thanked Phipps and the former Minister of Culture, Jacinth Henry-Martin, for starting the project.
Rattan said that she liked the way it was packaged, in that they highlighted issues of the society. She also made mention of the Special Education Unit that had both students and teachers drumming.
The PS also commended Phipps and appraised him as a great teacher. “He may not be in the classroom but he is inspirational. He is committed, he is an all-rounder in the art and those three things make him a great teacher,” she said.
There were also special appearances by the National Youth Drum Corps, Basseterre High School, Acoustic Drummers, Kettle and Bass, Defence Force Drummers and the Okolo Tegremantine Dancers.
