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Increasing pan provision and its status in schools and
communities
Diana Hancox, Head of World Music, Warwickshire County Music Service
I was invited to speak
at this conference based on what I have done to increase pan
provision and its status in Warwickshire schools and community and
on my ideas and beliefs of the future of pan. It is true that
provision of steel band in the county has grown greatly and that it
is now recognised as a key instrument in many of our schools with
festivals and concerts that support that ethos, but it is also true
that many, including many at the service I work for, recognise it
only as a bit of multicultural fun they can tick off on their access
and inclusion list. It is also true that while many parents and
schools are proud to show off their steel bands at fetes and special
evenings they do now want their children pulled out of “real
lessons” to learn pan.
While all of us at this
conference know the magic of pan and recognise the skills involved
playing pan, this is not the case in the music world, the world of
education or the general public. Pan has the value of being one of
the most accessible instruments (if not THE most accessible) to all
learners at whatever level and yet our top pannists have as much if
not more skills and ability as our grade 8 string players and top
concert pianists.
Raising the status of pan
and pan playing is vital for its future and its growth. To some
extent I believe that means conforming to a national or world
recognised type of grading system that puts it on the map with all
the other wonderful instruments of the world while fighting hard to
ensure its cultural uniqueness is protected. Creating such a
recognised system of learning and attainment means a large number of
us, teachers, players, makers, arrangers etc working together to
ensure any such system produced is respected and accepted by all
within the pan community and by all in the music and education
world. The pan world for too long has worked in its isolated pockets
and needs now to work together to ensure that not only we, but the
rest of the world understands the qualities and magic of learning
and playing pan.
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Programme