Instruments & Beyond

Over the last two weeks, Herman "Cupid" Francis, the Director of Culture, has been running his annual Easter music workshop where primary and secondary school students can get a chance to receive basic instrumental tuition, with hopes to spur them on to pick up music. Assisted by his brother Bimshaw, the both of them cover an impressive array of instrumental teaching ranging from guitar to violin to trombone to keyboards.

At the end of this two-week period, most of the participants got together and put on a presentation about what they have learnt over the course of the workshop, as well as perform some basic tunes on their selected instrument. At the end, they performed Amazing Grace as an entire ensemble.

Sounding out the trombone.

Introducing the inner workings of a trumpet.

The violins having a go.

The guitars performing their bit.

While I would have loved to part of this workshop, I couldn't do so because I was back in London for my Easter break. Cupid has been carrying out this programme for many years now, and most participants who signed up usually stay on and form part of Small Beginnings, a young persons orchestra that provides students the opportunity to play their instrument as part of an ensemble after school.

Perhaps it would be possible to re-look at the dates in future for the next education specialist coming to Montserrat to be able to be part of this continually ground-breaking effort, as the term dates for secondary school differs from primary.