PRESS RELEASE
Engineering Students learn to tune steelpans
The Faculty of Engineering at UWI is proud to announce the first workshop on steelpan tuning for students registered in Science and Engineering. The first workshop was held on February 4th 2010.
The workshop is substantial part of the course ENGR3000, The Technology of the Steelpan which has been offered to students of the University since the year 2000. Workshops are held every Thursday afternoon from 4pm to 7pm. In previous offerings of the course the workshop component was conducted by tuner Jimi Phillip who now tutors in the Pan in Schools programme. Students were simply required to observe and record the process. As of this year 2010, students are now required to fabricate their own steelpan - one that they will be able to take away at the end of the course. These workshops are conducted by master tuner Denzil Fernandez, creator of the Bore Pan.
The practical workshop is complemented by weekly 2-hour lectures covering key aspects of current knowledge in steelpan technology: metallurgy, geometry, acoustics, vibration characteristics inclusive of modal properties, stick technology, construction and manufacture. The very first lecture included an introduction to steelpan music history and was presented by Dr Kim Johnson. The course ends with a look at significant recent developments.
According to course leader, Professor Brian Copeland, Coordinator of the Steelpan Initiatives Project (SIP) and Chairman of Panadigm Innovations Ltd, makers of the G-Pan and PHI precision musical instruments, ENGR3000 is in keeping with the primary aim of developing a strong and vibrant steelpan industry in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. He notes that while the SIP emphasis has, thus far, been on the critical technological aspects, there is an urgent and immediate need for the nurturing of a cadre of young tuners who, as is the case of foreign counterparts, are highly qualified in the arts and sciences. The Professor also noted that the course has been high in demand since it was advertised in January 2010; however enrolment was restricted to 8 students given the hands on nature of the course and the need for individual tutoring by the Master Tuner.
Further details on ENGR300 are available at the course website http://www.eng.uwi.tt/depts/elec/staff/copeland/fe30b/fe30b.html
The class of ENGR300 of 2010 with some interested onlookers. Students are, from the right front, Nicola Lochan, David Chow, Rochelle Ramlal, Sarah Chin Chee Fat. Students from the right back are Anita Lacaille, Shastri Sookdeo (partly hidden), and Shemeon Williams (in brown jersey). Not in the picture is Nikita Morris. Denzil Fernandes stands to Sarah's right.
Student Nikita Morris looks on as Denzil demonstrates the grooving process.
