Sounds of tight percussion echoed throughout Borough of Manhattan Community College’s (BMCC) Fiterman Hall on Oct. 9 as students and professors from Kingston, Jamaica’s Alpha School of Music led a joyous and fascinating interactive workshop on Dancehall music for students in the BMCC Music Program.
BMCC said the special event was the result of a partnership formed this past June between Lower Manhattan College and the Alpha School of Music.
BMCC said the Memorandum of Understanding, signed by its Jamaican-American President Dr. Anthony E. Munroe and Alpha School of Music Director Gay Magnus, “marked a significant step in expanding global music education, cultural exchange, collaboration opportunities, and youth development for both schools.”
The Dancehall workshop collaboration at BMCC was made possible by the Consulate of Jamaica and Consul General to New York, Alsion Wilson, BMCC said.
It said attendees also included Director Magnus, Alpha Institute Administrator Margaret Little Wilson, LeRoy Graham Jr., founder of the True Tribute Organization (and 1978 BMCC alumnus), and Patricia “Miss Pat” Chin, co-founder of what is considered to be the world’s largest reggae record label, VP Records.
Earlier in the afternoon, BMCC said its Student Choir, led by Music Program Chairperson and Professor, Dr. Eugenia Oi Yau Yau, welcomed the guests by performing renditions of the songs “William Tell Overture” and “Baby Shark,” which “brought smiles and laughter from the Alpha ensemble.”
BMCC said the students closed their performance with “If Music Be the Food of Love” and “My Funny Valentine.”
The performance was followed by BMCC Vice President of Enrollment Management Dr. Sanjay Ramdath, who welcomed the Alpha School of Music guests and the BMCC community members in attendance.
“I’m just so glad we have this partnership between both schools, which have so much talent,” he said, noting that the opportunities for collaboration and cultural exchange are immense.
Noting its 130-year legacy, Little Wilson said Alpha is synonymous with music.
“At Alpha, we create opportunities, and this is the first collaboration between BMCC and Alpha working together for student exchange,” she said.
When he took the stage with his students, Alpha Lecturer Evad Campbell discussed the history and evolution of reggae music, including its origins in Ska and Rocksteady.
“I don’t usually do much talking — I let music do my talking,” he said before showcasing the knowledge and mastery of the Alpha student musicians, as they provided examples of the different sounds and precise beats associated with Dancehall music.
Campbell then invited BMCC students to play hand drums and other percussion instruments, occasionally calling on them to “Mix!” to change up the blend with the Alpha students who set the beat— “filling the room with collective energy and electricity,” BMCC said.
It said Campbell also invited five BMCC students to join the Alpha students in singing familiar songs, such as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” over “Diwali” and “Joyride” beats, emphasizing the simplicity but effectiveness of mixing different tempos.”
Additionally, BMCC said Campbell sang his rendition of “Baby Shark” over a Joyride beat.
BMCC said Campbell and the Alpha students played a reggae-infused version of the classic Super Mario Bros. theme – “a moment met with tremendous applause from the BMCC students.”
Music major Crystal Zapata, who participated in the event, said cultural and historical context is everything in musical genres.
“I am Puerto Rican, and my parents met in an underground reggae club during the late 1980s and early ’90s,” said Zapata, a DJ, adding that Jamaican music has influenced her style at the turntables.
“This music has always been a source of freedom, movement, and expression,“ she said. “No matter how hard the times are, there are just certain songs you will play and nothing in the world matters right now, only this moment of joy.“
Dr. Yau said the event was a fantastic experience for BMCC students.
“The room was filled with energy and laughter,“ she said. “I was thrilled to see how much our students enjoyed the visit, and how well they interacted with our guests.
“This fantastic musical experience will resonate with our students for a long time,“ Dr. Yau added.
“Miss Pat,” said her recording label, which was founded in 1979, continues to develop artists, many of them Alpha graduates, and gives them “wings to fly.“
“I thank you all for coming, and I hope you’ve learned something from our culture,“ she told BMCC students, faculty, and staff.
