Michael (Thabo) Carvin visited Anguilla last week and some of us will never be the same again. Though this was only his second visit to Anguilla, the first thing that struck me was that he did not behave like a stranger. I am not sure why I expected him to because world travelers have an ease with the new and unfamiliar.

Ijahnya Christian

Having been taken by the drum around the world and having the world, come to Michael Carvin’s Drumming School in New York, is what may have made this esteemed brother look so at home in Anguilla. It may well be the centrality of the drum in his life that creates the ease with which he relates to people and I felt quite privileged to interview him on Radio Anguilla and to listen to Ras B interviewing him on Heartbeat Radio. In both instances, the drummer became the wonderful storyteller reminding us once again of the African griots telling us all about our history and ourselves. Mrs. Carvin also visited but this was Thabo’s time and this time she was able to be the tourist while he did his magic on all those who witnessed him in action.

Three teaching sessions were held at the music room of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School’s Campus B and each of them got the adrenaline flowing. The first bit of excitement was the jam session where I witnessed first hand the Creative Art of making music. He pulled out of those musicians music they did not know they had and not only the music but a new attitude that helped them to play, as well as to relate to their instruments and to their audiences better than before. Other musicians in the jam band were Teacher Lennox Vanterpool on keyboards, Teacher and Youth Pastor Crispin Walsh on the bass guitar, and leader of the ALHCS Guitar Club, Gordon Hazel, on the rhythm guitar. And then there was Jaine. I will get tired of writing about Jaine when I get tired of listening to her but I would advise you not to hold your breath waiting for that to happen. When they had collectively burned the place down with “Summertime”, it was time for Anguilla’s veteran drummers to have a go with the Maestro. Tasha Sithole did not show up until the following day but among those present at the appointed time were Frederick York of St. Maarten, Desmond Mussington, Allan (Pipe) Carty, Ali, Jeffrey Jennings and others whose drumming expertise may thrill even more now that they will be focusing on new techniques shared during the Carvin workshop.

Day two was reserved for persons with drumming experience but who did not consider themselves professional. Among them were a number of drummers from different churches and it was obvious that the church is a rich nursery for the growing pool of talented drummers on the island. We therefore look forward to hearing more from children like Joshua Gumbs and Jadian Fleming as they grow older. If churchgoers thought that the drummers were sounding even sweeter than usual on Sunday that was the influence of Michael Carvin. Students were taken through the basics from holding the sticks, to use of the wrists, holding in the elbows, placing the feet correctly on the pedals and listening. As an observer, I noticed that some of our children had not yet learnt how to listen and this is something that we can reinforce in the everyday educational process.

On the third day, the Maestro took time out for a motivational speech. He likes making rhythms with his mouth and reminded the group that drumming is about rhythm so one need not have a complete drum set to make wonderful noise because the hands could be used. He kept the children’s attention in mainly two ways. Firstly, he made them feel like equals and then he played word games with them, repeating very rapidly and musically the phrases he wanted them to remember. It was just as interesting to watch Michael Carvin teach as it was to see and hear him play. I was particularly happy to be able to have some of the young people signed up in the Anguilla Stingray Music Programme participate in the workshops. These included several students and one young adult from the Dominican Republic. My Spanish is extremely limited and we sometimes have difficulty understanding each other but not when music, the universal language, is spoken. I noticed that some of the other children who find it hard to pay attention in school, were riveted as Carvin spread the gospel of dreaming big dreams, working hard, staying focused and winning. At the request of Music Teacher Daphne Jacobs-Richardson, the group was then treated to a drum solo in which, true to form, Mr. Carvin got us all to participate in an orchestra of rhythmic applause.
The entity we all need to thank for the experience is Anguilla Music Publishing and Promoting Inc. (AMPP) and Mr. Davon Carty, quietly driving the development of the Anguilla music industry from wherever it is now, to the cutting edge. On the last day Davon took the opportunity of recognizing the work of the Music Department at the ALHCS and the Anguillian artistes present. These included Bankie Banx, Ash and Jaine and Ginette Benjamin. What next? I enquired of Davon. I am not yet sure of the arrangements but I know that as follow up, one or more of Anguilla’s professionals are headed for the Michael Carvin Drumming School and only time will tell what wonderful experiences will flow from that. My Stingray Drummers are all excited with their gifts of Michael Carvin drum sticks and Stingray needs to find some drums very quickly before they start to play on Bankie and me.

AMPP is quick to acknowledge that without the help of its enlightened sponsors, the Carvin visit would not have been possible. I therefore take this opportunity to publicly convey heartfelt thanks to the friends, volunteers and sponsors who provided the ways and means. Leading the way in the development of the Anguilla Music Industry are: American Airlines, the Anguilla Tourist Board, Cable and Wireless, Anguilla Great House, National Bank of Anguilla, Video Dynesty, Tasty’s Restaurant, Johnnos, Roy’s Beachside Bar & Restaurant, PumpHouse, English Rose Restaurant, Rendezvous Bay Hotel, Romcan Company Ltd., Triple K Car Rental, Corner Bar Pizza, Mr. E. Valentin Davis, the Hoourable Speaker of the Anguilla House of Assembly - Mr. David Carty, Sound Engineer Richard “Ivory” Greenway, photographer Fabiana Liburd, the Youth and Culture Division, the media and the Music Department of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.

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