BRIAN BENOIT
CEO, Benoit Academy of Steelpan
The UN has designated August 11 World Steelpan Day and acknowledged that the pan grew out of TT in the early 20th century.
The Benoit Academy of Steelpan was established 12 years ago and has been reshaping the landscape of steelpan education and blending tradition with cutting-edge technology. This, in an effort to ensure the instrument's continued growth and relevance as a tool to support the cadre of cultural instruments that soothes and educates.
With a vision for steelpan education, the academy remains at the forefront of combining culture, innovation and education with the use of tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT), a custom-built Learning Management Platform (LMS), and groundbreaking animation projects to create a modern steelpan learning experience.
The importance of this effort cannot be overemphasised given that the pan is the national instrument of TT.
A critical objective is to ensure our country remains on top and to do this, it is imperative to embrace technology for steelpan education.
At the core of the successes achieved is the innovative use of IoT and digital tools. The Benoit Academy has developed an LMS to deliver its diverse curriculum to students worldwide and via the LMS’s interactive online opportunities such as pan performance and stage presence, managing a steel orchestra, and mastering the tenor pan at any time and cater to players of all skillsets.
In an effort to remain the country that embraces all aspects of the pan and to keep its space in a modern world, the development of a 2D animated series titled Legends of Panderica is in progress, and scheduled to be launched in 2025 as a unique project which combines entertainment with education and the introduction of pan to younger audiences through storytelling and animation. The use of these captivating narratives and relatable characters in Legends of Panderica will aim to inspire a global appreciation for steelpan music.
The success stories of the academy’s trust in pan has been significant, in that the author participated in the 2016 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) and brought international recognition to the academy. This sparked the need for collaborations with US-based organisations and the establishment of Steelpan Global.
This initiative fostered international partnerships and encouraged the spread of pan education through workshops and digital platforms which stands out as an additional feature for the further advancement of pan education and steelpan music.
Covid19 pushed us into the virtual space in many respects. The virtual programmes offered in the area of steelpan education are no different, as we have garnered international acclaim through this medium.
This has empowered pan enthusiasts across continents to learn, play and contribute to the art form. The courses, from stage presence to lessons in steelpan manufacturing, have positioned the model that is used to become one of the key leaders in pan education.
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