DEL ‘PANNESS’ JAMES - ‘MY CORONA WOES’

Feb 27

Feb 27 DEL ‘PANNESS’ JAMES - ‘MY CORONA WOES’

Being a musician in 2020 took its toll on artists of all varieties and continued in 2021 so far. It did not help that I am also a peripatetic music tutor and a director in my own Steel Pan Music School, TamBam Steel Orchestra Academy.

As a Pan soloist, all my private gigs/performances for the whole year were cancelled, within a month.

The redeeming factor was the deposit for my services. A World Pandemic will now be included in my cancellation policy. Because of this, I then devised online exercises and music theory videos and had to adapt to online 1-on-1 Pan sessions (with some ready to do a music theory exam).

As for arranging Stardust’s music and working with other bands- Pan Nation, Mangrove children classes, CUSPS has, unfortunately, totally stopped. (Thanks to all the band’s leaders that have worked with me in 2020 (and then it was cancelled): Tara Baptiste, Chris Storey, Matthew Philip, and Jenny Webb).

Some gigs and performances did come through as and when during the “lockdown” season that I am so grateful for (Thanks to Sonny Blacks, Felix Cross, and Mike McKenzie).

As a Peripatetic Pan tutor, I was furloughed in the first “lockdown” but had to seriously think, hard as to what can be done for my Pan students, as none of them has instruments or even sticks. Now, we are in the situation again, I asked fellow Pan tutors what they do. I got some great suggestions from Marlon Hibbert (Manager and Arranger of Endurance Steel Band). Therefore, with Zoom, 2 different Steel Pan apps (1 for iOS and 1 for Android) and a quick Pan Lesson plan, I am able to continue with my day job.

All TamBam SOA activities stopped. All classes, workshops and rehearsals, stopped. We have not rehearsed together since late Feb 2020. We did manage to produce two YouTube videos on our channel with the directors of TamBam, both pieces composed by me, ‘A Lockdown Spring’ and ‘Let Us Live’.

We are now just doing independent practice, revision of the repertoire and zoom meetings to plan for our Pan curriculum and for a brighter 2021.

I am going to remain patient and optimistic.

Thanks to Robbie Joseph and Panpodium for your continued help and support over the decades.

Keep Safe. Peace-Love-Pan.