PHILIPSBURG–Dow’s Musical Foundation (DMF) made a lengthy presentation to Members of Parliament (MPs) on Tuesday during a Central Committee meeting. The objective of the meeting was to bring Parliament up to date with DMF’s “Music in the Schools” programme.
The Foundation, represented by a team of steel pan lovers and educators, outlined the importance of the steel pan to the development of St. Maarten as a young nation. DMF President Isidore “The Mighty Dow” York wants public schools included in the programme soon.
York started out his presentation by stating that his father, steel pan pioneer Chester York, had been struggling for decades without any real assistance from the state in ensuring that the culture of St. Maarten is preserved.
The Mighty Dow took steel pan to another level through the introduction of steel pan at primary and secondary schools. DMF provides music classes for the schoolchildren and adults of St. Maarten and visitors, with an emphasis on steel pan. DMF also has a steel pan class for cruise ship tourists and teaches them pan at the Festival Village daily.
York thanked the foundation for Government buildings Stichting Overheidsgebouwen (SOG), which recently signed a one-year agreement with DMF to house its steel pan classes in the Festival Village.
DMF strategic planner Gary Cooper was frank with the MPs present and spoke his mind about the importance of steel pan music for the development of the island. “Why do you have this man [York – Ed.] like he is a beggar? The steel pan raises children’s IQ; that is a fact. Research has shown this fact,” said Cooper.
He said it is time the Government of St. Maarten and the private sector assist with this developmental initiative. Parents need to be made aware of the benefits of music education in the lives of their children.
Cooper also outlined three of DMF’s goals: cultural preservation, capacity building of the nation and increasing the international competitiveness of St. Maarten’s culture. Accreditation of DMF’s programme is also important for the Foundation.
“It is important that our programmes become accredited in St. Maarten as we seek to expand our local and regional offerings. DMF is operating a full music academy, with the necessary equipment and facilities, qualified teaching staff and following the prescribed curricula,” said Cooper.
DMF is presently holding talks with Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America (USA). This is one of the largest and most recognised music schools in the USA.
It is hoped that DMF programmes will result in the first two years’ exemption in Berklee’s degree programme. This would result in tremendous savings for students from St. Maarten and the region who would like to pursue a degree programme in music.
DMF should be commencing with special programmes hosted by Berklee College of Music soon. In keeping with elevating the teaching standards for local staff, DMF will be sending one of its members, Niesha Paul, to Barbados to complete her certification in music education.
The school has been transferred to the Festival Village recently until a DMF campus is constructed in Sucker Garden. The construction of this campus should see a well-equipped institution with state-of-the-art recording studios, classroom facilities and auditorium.
“Here again is another avenue for Government support, through the necessary guarantees required for a BOOT method of financing. BOOT stands for ‘build, own, operate and transfer.’
“Private sector financiers can provide funding for the construction of the building, own the building, which will be operated by DMF until the payment is completed, then transferred to DMF,” added Cooper.
The National Association of Music Education currently states, “steel bands have long been used to reach students with at-risk behaviour.”
Steel bands have been used in many high school programmes across the USA as the best option for students at risk of dropping out or for students who do not have any formal music knowledge. Students who participate in such programmes feel better about themselves, their academic abilities and that they were part of a team.
Bucket list
Cooper informed Parliament that DMF has a list of points it would like to see become a reality. It wants the establishment of a tripartite committee consisting of stakeholders giving input about the development of steel pan on the island.
All first and second forms of public schools should be enrolled in the programme at five per cent below the prescribed rates offered by DMF. It also wants immediate accreditation and an immediate injection of working capital of US $160,000 per annum by the new term commencing August 2017.
DMF wants a guarantee by Government for its BOOT programme for construction of a campus and expeditious processing of work permits for skilled and qualified teachers and senior professional staff.
Cooper said the island needs a cultural ambassador and who better than Isidore York as Cultural Ambassador. DMF wants immediate commencement of the rehabilitation programme at the Pointe Blanche prison. Tax concessions for the private sector as an inducement to sponsor music classes is another way to get funding for the foundation.
Cooper’s final request was telling Parliament that DMF needs an acquisition by the state/private sector of two school buses dedicated to the transfer of students from their schools to DMF’s facilities.
The MPs thanked the DMF team and Wescot-Williams said Parliament will get back to the Foundation.
MP Hyacinth Richardson suggested that the money needed by DMF could be taken from Parliament’s traveling budget.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/68575-pan-foundation-discusses-future-of-steel-pan-music
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