00:00The Birdsong Steelband Vacation Camp started off as a music literacy program for steelpan
00:10players, but quickly evolved to offer a wider scope of free music education to its participants.
00:16The first year was really about literating steelpan players and then it just grew from
00:22there.
00:23We thought, okay, if we can do this, why can't we do more?
00:27So it started to build from there, we added guitars, we added trombones, wind and brass,
00:34other strings, piano, voices, etc.
00:38So that really was the address because music education, I know most people would know that
00:42music education in this country is very expensive, so therefore that's what we're here for, because
00:48we provide free music education to students, mostly usually in the East West Corridor.
00:53The camp, as musical director Darianne Dyett tells us, isn't just about learning music
00:58theory, how to read music, or play instruments though.
01:02They also do movement, so dance, so that's, you know, they get in touch with their buddies.
01:07They have classes on theatre arts, where they learn more about self-expression, that kind
01:11of thing.
01:12And one thing that we take very seriously is also our personal development classes.
01:16So they do leadership classes and personal development, because we believe in developing
01:21the whole person when they come here.
01:23We also have classes about sound engineering, last week they would have had a session that
01:28highlighted music therapy, which is a relatively small industry in Trinidad and Tobago, but
01:33it does exist.
01:34So, you know, opening them up to different types of careers in music and that kind of
01:38thing is what we do during the camp.
01:41However, as one may imagine, putting on a free music education camp for 100 students
01:46every year has its challenges.
01:50Funding something like this is a very big task.
01:53Sometimes we do have support from different places, but it's always a struggle, because
01:57we want to offer more to the students, you know, and also we want to give more to our
02:02tutors, who are so dedicated, and essentially most of the time it's the money that the
02:08tutors make, it's more or less, you know, like they volunteer, and it's like just a
02:11thank you gesture.
02:13But, you know, with more funding and more support, perhaps from corporate entities,
02:19we will be able to give so much more.
02:22Being a former student, Dyett, who is proud of the progression of the program, has certainly
02:27reaped the benefits of the camp.
02:28Well, I am extremely proud, and I would say that because I've actually been here for all
02:3320 years.
02:34So, I started off as a student, so you could see that that leadership class and personal
02:40development would have really done a lot for me.
02:42Camp participant, Sayan War, also shared her experiences in the camp over the past
02:47five weeks.
02:48Bootsong is an exciting experience, it's a thrilling experience, because I learn so much
02:55from it.
02:56I meet people that I've met, they impacted my life a whole lot, the tutors, everybody,
03:00it's just so fulfilling and everything.
03:04And when asked if she had any advice for other young people interested in learning and pursuing
03:09music, this is what she had to say.
03:12Bootsong is the way to go, and sometimes you just have to go head first, head first, just
03:18don't think about it, just go straight in.
03:21The highlight of the camp is perhaps its ending note, a concert which is free to the public
03:26on Saturday 10th August at 6pm at Queen's Hall.
03:34Dominic Ramroop, TV6 News.
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