Published 1 November 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
ST. KITTS NEVIS NATIONAL CARNIVAL COMMITTEE HOLDS YOUTH CALYPSONIANS DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM
Thursday 1st November, 2018 (St. Kitts / Nevis) – As the St. Kitts Nevis National Carnival Committee (SKKNCC) continues its Youth Calypsonian Developmental Program, the Chairman of Carnival, Noah Mills, recently took time out to give an update of the Project. The 8-week Training Program began on Saturday August 18th, 2018. Each Saturday, the Trainers move to a new School. Thus far, Workshops have been held at Charles E. Mills Secondary, Verchilds High, William Connor Primary, Tucker Clarke Primary, and Cayon High School. The Facilitators go next to Dean Glasford Primary in St. Peters, then unto Molineaux Primary on St. Kitts, with the final Seminar being held in Nevis. In commenting on the Venues chosen to host the Sessions, the Chairman said that the Carnival Committee wanted to ensure that it reached as wide a cross section as possible, to harness fullest potential of young Calypsonians. Thus, the total number of Sessions in St. Kitts will be 7, with 1 Session on Nevis. He then elaborated on the single Session being planned for Nevis. During Culturama 44, this past Summer, there were 14 Junior Calypsonians who competed. As per the SKNNCC Policy, Participants from Culturama 44 can enter this year’s National Carnival Competitions using the same material. Thus, the Nevisian Calypsonians are farther along the curve vis-à-vis their Kittitian counterparts. Nonetheless, the Team will still travel to Nevis to deliver the Training.
Noah Mills is the Lead Facilitator for the Project, receiving support from Troy “Bif” Mills (Lecturer and Guitarist) and King Craig MacDowell (Lecturer and Keyboardist). The Sessions run from 9 am to 4 pm, with a 1-hour lunch break. Lunch is provided free for all Attendees, and if the Participants incur any expense to travel to the Venue, their Bus fee is refunded on the spot.
Some of the Topics covered at the Workshops include:
- History and Developing of Calypso
- Types and Structure of Calypso
- Music and Calypso
- Performing and Judging Calypso
- Making Money from Calypso
- Legal Aspects of the Art form.
At the end of each Workshop, the Facilitators produce a Verse and a Chorus of a Song that a Youth Calypsonian will perform this year for the National Carnival Junior Calypso Show. Included below, is a sample of a Song composed at the Cayon High School on Saturday September 15th, performed by Lady Elsa.
In commenting on participation, Chairman Mills noted that the turnout has been tremendous. From a total of five (5) Workshops thus far, thirty two (32) Students have attended. And what is even more noteworthy is the fact that about 29 of the 32 Youths have never sung Calypso at the National Carnival level before. This means that this year for Sugar Mas 47, we may very well see an Eliminations being held at both Levels, that is, for the Primary, as well as, the Secondary School National Carnival Youth Calypso Competitions.
Subsequent to the Training, Mr. Nigel “Numpy” Williams and a selected Team of Musicians will be responsible for scoring the Music Sheets for each Calypsonian performing in this year’s Sugar Mas Calypso Competitions. There are also other Writers who will be working with Junior Calypsonians to continue the improvement process.
