Jeremiah’s passion for percussion

By Lara Pickford-Gordon

snrwriter.camsel@catholictt.org

An Instagram video of a very animated Jeremiah Gittens (tisha.t.tish) speaking about his love of playing percussion instruments, bongos and congas had over 5,000 likes. There were over 300 comments from people impressed with Jeremiah’s enthusiasm and passion.

The Catholic News visited twelve-year-old Jeremiah at Our Lady of Laventille RC School, Picton Road on February 19 to hear about his passion for playing.

About six months ago, he began playing tok tok with a band in his Trou Macaque Laventille community, the Roadblock Steel Orchestra. At the time, the band was rehearsing for a performance at Queen’s Park Savannah. He was with them at Skinner Park, San Fernando on January 25, this year, drumming in the Panorama final small conventional band category. Jeremiah said he felt good and proud of himself.

He has come a long way saying, “I didn’t know how to play nothing”. While with Road Block, he asked the band arranger Dejean Cain if he could try the congas. Cain’s father showed him a few “beats”.

“I start to pick it up and after that he say I will reach far with it, so keep it up. So, next day, I was getting accustomed to playing the congas and I see bongos and I trying to play it,” Jeremiah said.

Jeremiah plays bongos with the En ToTo Youth Steel Ensemble; he is their youngest member. “And after that, I just master playing bongos and congas,” he said.

When he began, Jeremiah’s desire to better himself on the congas made him use buckets to strike a rhythm. “.. I just went up on YouTube and type ‘How to play bongos correctly’ and I just start to learn it, and when I start to join Road Block, them have all the instruments whey I like,” he said.

Jeremiah’s mother, Nicole Gomez, added that before using buckets, the tabletop was used. “Everybody was like ‘Jeremiah, every minute is a noise’…it was like a joke. It was a bit annoying at some times, it was like a joke for everyone. Now everyone is like, so all where you go, you will involve yourself in!’”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jeremiah was indoors and after lockdowns eased, he was allowed to venture outdoors. Gomez said, “…introducing him to the [Morris Marshall Basketball Court] court and playground, Jeremiah just started walking and knowing the whole of our area, Trou Macaque, in Laventille, his big brother was saying ‘Jeremiah, you know 100 people and I only know 50’.” With Jeremiah getting into steelpan and drumming, his roaming about the community stopped.

Jeremiah’s skill and passion for playing caused him to be recommended to play bongos with the St Theresa’s Girl’s RC steelband and he also plays with La Creole Pan Grove, a single-pan band.

He can play tenor pan through the School in Pan programme, a collaboration between Massy Trinidad All Stars and the Catholic Education Board of Management, but does not like it much saying, “too much music in my head, too much notes to remember.”

Playing bongos and congas is different as he can “ketch everything one time…” and follow “phrases” which he explains is a series of notes.

Jeremiah discloses that an aunt is helping him save for his own bongos. He has a clear vision of what he wants to do next. “You see school Panorama, I want to play bongos for one school, bongos for a junior band, but I going by Despers [Desperadoes Steel Orchestra] next year, please the Lord,” he said with assurance.

Jeremiah added, “And for big band and thing, I will play congas”.  Jeremiah also has his sights set on getting into the Laventille Rhythm Section.

His principal Lou Anne Phillip-Regis said Jeremiah got involved in the School in Pan Programme in Standard Two and was still involved as a Standard Four pupil. She continued, “He plays the drum at church and at assemblies. He is not only involved in music, he is multi-talented. He is involved in football; he is captain of the march pass team; and basically everything Jeremiah touches turns to gold,” she said with a smile.