BASSETERRE St. Kitts – DESPITE the disgraceful robbery that took place at the Edgar Challenger Library and House Museum a few short weeks ago, Winston ‘Zack’ Nisbett has risen above the bandits and is showing them that they did not keep him down.
He is still putting on his annual Fife, Banjo, Quatro and Guitar Workshop. The Delisle Walwyn sponsored four-week workshop officially began yesterday (August 3) and will be seeing some 40 children learning about, and how to play the Guitar, Quatro, Fife, the Tenor Banjo and the Ukulele banjo.
In a short opening ceremony held today (August 4), the attending children heard from some well-rounded individuals namely Osmond Petty, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education; Lloyd Lazaar, former Director of Sports, and Roy Richards, representative for Delisle Walwyn, who spoke to them [children] about skill development, respect for time, and the importance of discipline and helping one another. The children were encouraged to practice hard, practice well and do the best they can.
The students will be taught by a number of talented, musically oriented persons including former calypsonian, Mowbray Phillip, and former Defence Force member, Patrick O’Loughlin. Zack will be having some dignified individuals coming to speak to the students on a number of occasions throughout the four weeks.
At the end of the workshop, a closing ceremony will be held where the children will be showing off what they learnt to their parents and other persons in attendance. They will also be presented with certificates of participation.
Last year (2010) the Instrumental Workshop was held right after the Easter break with some 53 students attending and Nisbett said that the response was so great that another was held during the Summer to accommodate those children that were not able to attend the first due to the size of the classes.
At the end of last year’s workshop, Nisbett chose some of the students to form a band which has turned out to be very successful as they have been called upon to play at several events. He said that at the end of this workshop and the others to come, he will be having more children join the band.
This workshop is the sixth to be held after the first that took place some 15 years ago and will continue as an annual event catering to children from as young as three years old up to 14.
