By L.K.Hewlett
The Royal School of Music awarded four students of Swanstons Music School with distinctions this month.
All 18 of the students who sat the examinations passed, making their instructor, Irv Swanston, very proud of her students and the school’s 100 percent pass rate.
“I am very proud of all my students, distinction or not. They studied hard and all passed with merit,” Swanston said.
Filbert Rogers, who passed with distinction, said that playing the piano relaxes him.
“I have a keyboard at home and I wanted to get better at playing music, so my mother enrolled me in piano class,” he said.
Clilia Davis, Desi Brown, and Auriel Edwards also earned distinctions. All three have a parent who can play the piano. Clilia, who likes playing classical pieces, said she ‘begged’ her Mom to take lessons. Auriel also saw his mom playing and was amazed at how her fingers glided over the keys.
While other kids her age are watching TV, Desi is at her piano practising. She has been playing for three years and is currently practising to become the organ player in her church. All the children practise at home or by relatives when they have free time.
“The students spend two hours per week for class. One hour designated to theory, the other to practical. Theory is learning the symbols and the reading and understanding of music while practical refers to the actual playing of the piano,” explained Swanston. “Most, if not all the students can play by ear. They have a passion for playing and they come here to learn the disciplines of playing the piano.”
The class is expected to sit the theoretical side of their exams in October. The Associate Board of the Royal School of Music in England sets these examinations. The students can sit exams up to Grade 8 but are not required to do so in chronological order.
Swanston encourages the students to follow their hearts and talents.
“Children can start taking lessons at my school as early as 8 years. They can continue on in music, as there are scholarships available to them to go off to study after they sit their academic exams.” she said. Mrs. Swantson feels that taking piano lessons is a positive way for children to express themselves and a good way to keep them out of trouble.
Last year, Swanston’s School of Music attained 11 distinctions and two merits in the Theory and Practical Examinations set by the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music, and it was the fourth time she had sent candidates to sit the examinations during the school’s 14-year history and she had never experienced failures.
Swanston also teaches English and Literature at the Washington Archibald High School (WAHS) and noted that the same enthusiasm she exudes at that school are transposed to students of her music classes.
Irv Swanston was born in Nevis to Alisa Bridgewater and Uhral Swanston, and during her formative years attended the Gingerland primary and Secondary Schools before attending the College of Further (CFE) Education in 1988 where she graduated as a Trained Teacher.
Swanson’s teaching career started at her childhood school and on completion of her stint at the CFE, now called the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, returned to Gingerland.
She later filled a vacancy at the Basseterre Junior High School, now called the WAHS, and subsequently enhanced her academic qualification at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus in Jamaica and graduated in 2001.
Swanston comes from a long line of musicians on both sides of her family. She is the niece of the popular Edgar Bridgewater who was instrumental in her fostering the passion she has for music.
She started playing the piano at a tender age and after her 16th birth anniversary was the assistant organist at the St. George’s and Fig Tree Anglican Churches.
Irv Swanston, scholar, academic and music teacher and disciplinarian, established her school of music in 1993; it is located on East Park Range, Basseterre opposite the entrance to Basseterre High School and she also holds guitar classes.
