UTT students take class to the stage

As part of the MA programme the students were required to take Fundamentals in Calypso Compositions, a course that covers both theoretical and practical aspects of calypso composition.

They delved into the basics of calypso poetics, rhetorical devices, themes, genres, rhythms, and calypsonian persona, all of which was supposed to teach them how to analyse calypsoes with a layer of objectivity.

They were also taught how to find the message and see how it works with the music and the performance.

The students were given an assignment to put together a calypso tent, inclusive of marketing and performances.

According to lecturer Dr Kela Francis,“The tent was their practicum; this year I decided to use the tent format and let the students make a presentation to the public.

They each composed their own calypso and presented it. It was the first time writing a calypso as well as performing on a stage for some of them.” The students were all involved in several jam sessions during class time to work out their songs before the big day.

Twenty students performed for the audience, which included professor Hollis “Chalkdust” Liverpool and Dr Rudolph Ottley.

Among the students were seasoned performers like Wayne McDonald (bassman), Marcus Baptiste (pannist), Natalia Dopwell (vocalist), Michelle Henry (musician), Dean Williams (guitarist),Yanz Garcia (pannist) and Karen Forde (dancer). The band Acoustic Kaiso Makers and chorus were made up of students from the MACS class.

The overall performances by both the first timers and experienced performers were well received by the audience.

Professor Liverpool praised the students for a job well done, adding that some of calypsoes were well composed.