With over 50 students from 26 primary and secondary schools into the finals of the inaugural Schools??? Music Festival, the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation is seeking to ensure they are well prepared for the March 15 affair, at the Wildey Gymnasium.
To achieve this, two developmental workshops have been planned to correct any deficiencies observed by judges during the preliminary stage of the competition.
Coordinator of the Festival and Senior Education Officer, Fernando Carter, speaking on the importance of the training, said: ???It is not only aimed at correcting errors but it will look at personality traits, challenges and issues exemplified by participants throughout the preliminaries. We???re always in the Ministry trying to educate and develop our students and this effort will ensure we have a high quality show.???
He added that a key objective of the session was to make students understand that they could realise their dreams in the music industry, once armed with the requisite training.
The first workshop will be held on Thursday, February 26, for secondary students, while that for primary school students will be on Tuesday, March 3. Both will take place at Prince Cave Hall, Station Hill, St. Michael, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
They are being hosted in collaboration with Partners That Care International (PTCI), a charitable entity assisting with the planning of the Music Festival. Facilitators include outstanding entertainer, Carolyn Leacock; saxophonist, Arturo Tappin; and Motivational Speaker, Errol Griffith.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Senator Harcourt Husbands, will deliver opening remarks at the workshop on February 26.
Among the areas which will be examined are personality profiles, group dynamics, public speaking, confidence/trust building, empowerment and overall deportment. Moreover, students will also learn how to make appropriate use of the microphone; how to warm up; and how to relate to other musicians, as well as their audience.
The facilitators will also undertake sessions on choosing suitable songs, pronunciation and enunciation, vocal projection, musicianship, harmonising, and feeding off the energy of others.
joy.ann-gill@barbados.gov.bb