TUCO's Children’s Calypso Workshop Inspires Next Generation Of Calypsonians
Calypso History Month celebrates the legacy of Trinidad and Tobago’s music and preserves it as a cultural treasure.
The Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) has planned a series of events to honour the artform and inspire future Calypsonians.
On Wednesday, TUCO hosted a Children’s Calypso Workshop and Lecture Series to engage young people with the music through a workshop and lecture series led by veterans of the artform. Sessions covered Calypso writing, Rapso, and Extempo, among other topics.
TUCO North Chairman, Mark ‘Contender’ John, says the initiative has grown so much it’s now oversubscribed, adding that it began in Primary Schools to get children involved from an early age.
« You start with the youths because we have a tendency to want to blame them for accepting all other kinds of cultures and musical, you know, but they need to have a foundation and a knowledge of what this artform is about. The Calypso artform. »
TUCO General Secretary, Shirlane Hendrickson, says the workshop is vital to preserving the artform’s heritage and hopes Calypso will one day be part of the school curriculum. She’s encouraged by the growing support from teachers and parents alongside the children.
« We are proud to see the input by both teachers and parents because it’s always, always so nice to know that the history of Calypso, its artform, and all surrounding it, is really much complemented by and with the teachers and parents. »
Veteran Calypsonian Llewellyn MacIntosh, better known as ‘Short Pants,’ said he was honoured to be chosen to lend his expertise in Calypso composition to the next generation, adding that the programme would help to extend and strengthen the Calypso base.
« I have worked in Secondary Schools for, well, almost all of my working life, and I have taught a number of subjects including English Language and English Literature and I have, over the years, recognised the connection between the poetry or the literature that I have taught in traditional school and what the Calypso, or what the Calypsonian does in his composition. »
The art of Extempo is another integral part of the workshop and was facilitated by Phillip Murray, known on stage as ‘Black Sage.’ He described Extempo as an aspect of Calypso music with its signature being spontaneous composition.
« A good Calypso is like an essay. It has an introduction, it has a body, and it has a conclusion. Any good Calypsonian should have — as they say, it’s an editorial in song. You have an opinion, ‘What you think about the budget?’ And you have to try to convince people to your opinion. »
He said that he aims to teach the children the importance of reading, knowing current affairs, knowledge of local and international topics, and the importance of self-expression through words.
Launched in 2002, the Children’s Calypso Workshop remains a vital part of TUCO’s mission to preserve and promote the Calypso tradition.
