Steelpan Jam with Suzette (York Woods District Blog)

I was recently interviewed by Diana, a librarian from York Woods Library which is also a host of the Culture Days festival. Here's a sneak peak of what was discussed.

D!ana: How did you first get into steelpan?

Suzette: A friend of mine, Monifa Colthurst, was playing with Toronto's oldest steel band, Afropan, and invited me to a rehearsal. At the time I was a teenager on summer break and the band was rehearsing every evening preparing for the annual Caribbean parade, Caribana. I found myself attending their rehearsal quite often as the music was infectious. The environment was so friendly, everyone was happy to be there and made me feel welcome.

D: What was it that really got you hooked and inspired you to teach steel pan? S: Seeing that the steelpan was limitless to the genres of music that could be played excited me. It is often thought that because the steelpan was birthed in the Caribbean, Trinidad & Tobago, Calypso and Reggae were the only types of music played. Many people are often surprised when they hear a pannist playing Classical, Jazz, R&B and even cultural songs. My inspiration to teach came from ...

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Highpark Loft BBQ

​Suzette with Luan, Gary and Adam, celebrating

​Suzette with Luan, Gary and Adam, celebrating

It was that time of year again for the fun loving res​idence of a particular High Park loft to celebrate the end of summer with their annual roof top BBQ.

My second year being invited to entertain with melodies of the Caribbean were interrupted with threats of a downpour​ but we did manage to swing in some tunes before bringing the music inside to again enjoy without the inclemencies. 

I had a wonderful​ time and would especially like to thank Luan, Adam and Gary for their hospitality of making me feel welcome.

Culture Days -Steelpan With Suzette workshop

Culture Days workshop: Steelpan With Suzette Join Suzette as she speaks about the Steelpan's origins, evolution and current innovations. Have fun while learning the proper technique of holding the sticks, stance and playing a Steelpan. Expect to …

Culture Days workshop: Steelpan With Suzette

Join Suzette as she speaks about the Steelpan's origins, evolution and current innovations. Have fun while learning the proper technique of holding the sticks, stance and playing a Steelpan. Expect to learn a simple song, no musical knowledge required.​

This is a FREE event for Adults and Children (7 & up)​

​

​About Culture Days

Culture Days is a collaborative coast-to-coast-to-coast volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. With the support of a National Steering Committee and volunteer Provincial and Territorial Task Forces, thousands of activity organizers self-mobilize at the grassroots level to present and coordinate free public activities that take place throughout the country over the last weekend of September each year.

The third annual Culture Days weekend will take place September 28, 29 and 30, 2012, and will feature thousands of free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind-the-scenes,” to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, designers and other creative people in their communities.

With thousands of activities registered a​t culturedays.ca, and with the support of media partners like the CBC, Globe and Mail and St. Joseph Communications (Canadian Family, Where, Fashion and Toronto Life magazines), Culture Days drives a multi-level national communications and public relations campaign designed to inspire and catalyze greater public participation in the arts and cultural life of our communities. A variety of free, useful Tips and Tools are available to support activity organizers throughout the process of planning, promoting and executing their Culture Days activities.

source:http://culturedays.ca/en/about-culture-days

Source: http://shar.es/uRCuF

Cultures Day Workshop: ​Steelpan With Suzette

Join Suzette Vidale as she speaks about the instrument's origins, evolution and current innovations.
Have fun while learning the proper technique of holding the sticks, stance and playing a steelpan. Expect to learn a simple song, no musical knowledge required.

Date & Times:
Saturday September 29, 2012 — 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Saturday, September 29, 2012 — 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Location
327 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario

Registration required: 416-393-7653
THIS IS A FREE EVENT

LCBO Diversity Day

​Ezra Lataille, committee member of the Caribbean Pavillion, and Suzette

​Ezra Lataille, committee member of the Caribbean Pavillion, and Suzette

This was my fourth year being invited to participate in Diversity Day representing the Caribbean Pavilion. The  day itself is a celebration of the many cultural heritages within the LCBO, showcasing the food, entertainment, costumes and art.

Highlights included performances on the main stage and diverse delectable selections from each pavilion.

Caribbean Day at North York Seniors Centre

​Thankful to be invited to perform at the North York Seniors Centre.

Would you believe I did something in my performance I have NEVER done before...Sing.​ I'm not sure where the bravery came from but while I was performing it felt right so I went with it *blush*

I also invited my father to come along on this performance. He's always full of surprises and guess what, he certainly did surprise us all. In his pocket was his harmonica. :) He played a few songs and received cheers and a round of applause. Who knew a rendition of Danny Boy could cause such a reaction.​

Steelpan and harmonica, what do you think dad, it could work right?

House of Music, House of Food!

Went to Hot House and was jammin to some jazz chunes by Jazz Zone, the house band. These guys are some talented catz. Would love to take a knock on my pan with them.

Suzette with Jazz Zone

Suzette with Jazz Zone

Carnival Time Again on the Road with Afropan Steelband

It has been almost 2 decades of me either playing pan or "going down the road" with Afropan Steelband -Imagine that! I remember the Caribana of '92, in my new LA Gears, chipping down the road for first time with a steelband, holding on to the steelpan rack jamming to Second Imij's "On The Count of Four" - remember that chune?! After an entire summer of hanging out at Afropan's panyard, listening in at rehearsals, attending BLOCKOS, socializing and holding a pair of sticks & "knockin" on a pan for the first time,  I knew I had join this group and play pan.

20 years later, as I watch the next generation of players I see the strange hairstyles, funky clothes and fresh shoes but realize the music maintains. There is still that happy vibe one feels when those notes hit your soul and you are taken to another realm to just be one with the music.

At the end of the day, all the energy, hard work and huge build up for a moment to share the music, the vibes and the culture with the world are totally worth it.

suzette_caribana_parade_2012.jpg

Culture Days @ the Library

Hooray! I was accepted to participate in Culture Days, " a collaborative coast-to-coast-to-coast volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities". 

Acceptance letter confirming I will be giving a workshop on the Steelpan.​

Acceptance letter confirming I will be giving a workshop on the Steelpan.​

Pan Alive 2012 Trailer

Thought this was pretty cool!​

Ontario Steelpan Association presents Pan Alive 2012. Friday August 3rd, 2012. Show starts at 7pm. Visit www.panalive.com for more info.

Upcoming Event-AHEN

When I started playing the steelpan (over 15 years ago), my very first performance on stage was for a showcase of steelbands at Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts. A band named Panatics performed and a there was a female pannist playing in the front line with an energy unmatched by her fellow musicians. I was enthralled. She jammed like her life depended on it and played with a passion like I had never seen before. That pannist's name was Jamea Zuberi.