BASSETERRE, St. Kits – MUSIC can be described as the food of love, one of the spices of life and also a motivator, so much so that this art form has the power to steer individuals in the direction of either good or evil. But can it make a difference in reversing the idle and wayward behaviour which has characterised misguided youth?
Sherriff Tobias of the Tobago Boys’ Brigade Concert Band is of the firm belief that music, in its positive and purest forms, could make significant inroads in encouraging young people to trod the path that leads to edification.
Tobias, along with the Rev. Duane Samm (Superintendent of the Tobago Methodist Circuit), recently journeyed to St. Kitts with members of the Band, with a view to promoting the art form as a suitable and effective alternative to gang involvement and other forms of rebellious behaviour.
“This trip came out from a meeting held here last year July, where we had our regional camp on the island of St. Kitts. We hosted about six different islands. Tobago has a band - march and concert - and one of the things that they thought was unique is to see these little children playing these brass instruments. From the meeting, it was decided or recommended that we should showcase the talent to the others islands; more so to the young people to help divert them from idleness into doing something positive and constructive.
“So, we took it up and we are here…We are hoping really to do a couple of things: One, to showcase the talents of these young children to other young people in St. Kitts with the hope that they would be so inspired that they too would want to take it up. It is a good way of turning them away from crime and drugs into doing something positive. The second thing is to market Tobago, seeing that we are hosting the camp in 2012 and to have as many representatives as possible from St. Kitts and the other Caribbean islands come down to our beautiful shores.”
The Tobago Boys’ Brigade Concert Band - according to Tobias – is approximately 45 pieces strong; 25 pieces of which are brass instruments. He said the organisation is fortunate; in that the government has made considerable investment in the movement by supplying its instruments.
His suggestion to the local government therefore is – especially because of the benefits that could be reaped – to make substantial investments in the musical development of the youth.
Tobias found it necessary to point out however that it is absolutely imperative for young people to understand the difference between music that elevates and inspires, as opposed to music that degrades and promotes deviant behaviour.
“There is some music which point young people to behaviour that is not acceptable. But for young people getting involved, I normally tell them get involved not only in music but also something positive. In my case, I tell them get involved in music which can calm the mind. We have introduced ballroom dancing to take away from the ‘nowadays’ music that encourages them to walk with the guns and the knives in their pockets, because of the music that they listen to and dance to and party with. So, we are trying to change that mindset and we are pretty successful…”
According to Rev. Samm, the success of the programme is evident, not only to those directly involved, but also to members of society who come in contact with persons who would have passed through the programme.
“I have been in this particular position since September 2010. But knowing of the history of the police brigade, when they reach a certain age, I know that they are taken up a lot by the security forces, like the defence force which finds that they are quite mineable when it comes to the discipline and so on. And they are easy to train for the defence force setting, and it also enhances their music and so on. If we track them, we find that they are positive citizens who add value to the whole landscape of Tobago.”
While in St. Kitts, the 16-member Tobago Boys’ Brigade Concert Band hosted a number of workshops, visited several organisations and held mini-concerts at the Port Zante, the Old Boy’s School and the Children’s Home, among others.
They departed the Federation yesterday (Aug. 3).
