BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DRUMBEATS resonated around the entire ‘Wesley’ Methodist Church hall on Thursday June 21, 2012 and patrons were unable to restrain their involuntary foot tapping and head nodding movements as the pulsating beats forced their muscles to respond.
This was the 12th annual Heart Beat – a drumming event to show case the drumming skills of the various primary schools around the island.
Drumming specialist from the Department of Culture, Rhoyd Phipps has been responsible for spreading the skills of drumming to the youth around the island and it was difficult to judge who was more passionate, the students or the tutor, as they drummed their hearts out with obvious enjoyment and fervour.
A long standing member of the Okolo Tegramantine Arts Group, Phipps brings a philosophy and passion to his teaching. He sees drumming as an integral part of “our ancestors” and feels the need to keep it alive and impress the importance of it on the youth.
He has been able to keep alive Heart Beat – the annual drumming expo for the last 12 years - and the enthusiasm seen in more recent times among both parents and children has made him confess that it makes him proud to see how they have blossomed.
From their timid beginnings have sprung the National Drum Corps that has performed at Opening Ceremonies of many regional meetings, new drum groups in various churches and youth organisations, and increased membership into his founding group, the Okolo drummers.
Drumming groups from several schools mounted the podium one after the other and put their hearts and hands into drumming with gay abandon. It is fortunate that this was not a competition for judges would have been hard pressed to decide on any one winner. They were all winners.
Primary Schools participating were: Tyrrel-Williams, Cotton-Thomas, Tucker-Clarke, Irish Town, Deane-Glasford, Beach Allen and Dr. William Connor.
Guest artistes (National Drum Corps, Okolo drummers, Vivace drummers, Creative Soul dancers, Gian Williams (poet)) were also well received by the capacity crowd occupying the church hall.
But the group that fired up the children most was the Kettle Drum duo whose driving rhythms brought the children – even the very small - out into the aisles dancing and stomping and even doing some masquerade movements as the rhythms just took them over.
One young dancer (no more than 5-6 years old) took the opportunity to mount the stage and take over one of the drums and would not budge when the Okolo drummers were ready to perform. Eventually he was left to drum with the advanced drummers and was a delight to watch keeping his rhythm as he drummed with obvious enjoyment.
Nature Beat
Drumbeats were not the only thing being drummed into the ears of the youthful crowd on Thursday. This year’s event featured the theme of Environmental Awareness and messages were brought to the youth by various environmental agencies on how to conserve energy and maintain a sustainable environment.
They were told why they had to conserve our marine environment, reminded to conserve water and to take responsibility for the waste or garbage they produced. The mini talks that were interspersed between the drumming items were enhanced with video presentations on a screen mounted on the platform.
As the Minister of Culture said in her speech, this was an event which promoted creative learning.
We must continue to pay tribute to Mr. Rhoyd Phipps for the difference he is making in the lives of these youngsters as he spreads his drumming skills in these many creative ways.
Heart Beat 2012 was indeed heart-warming. Kudos to all who participated.
