A groundbreaking educational initiative is revolutionizing how young generations experience traditional parang music in Trinidad and Tobago. Led by vocalist, composer, and cultural researcher Curtra Skeete of Arima, The Parang Lab employs an innovative methodology that merges musical performance with literary storytelling and interactive learning.
Established earlier this year, the project takes a scientific approach to cultural preservation, with Skeete and fellow musicians presenting themselves as ‘parrangologists’ – doctors specializing in the art form. Through bilingual storytelling sessions that incorporate live musical accompaniment, children gain both educational and interactive exposure to traditional parang, experiencing what Skeete describes as ‘the organic side of the art form.’
The initiative’s unique methodology includes the development of a children’s book series targeting ages five to eight. Three manuscripts are currently under review, including ‘Maria Primera Parranda’ (chronicling a child’s inaugural parang experience), ‘John Boy and the Golden Cuatro’ (about self-taught musical mastery), and a tribute to legendary parang queen Clarita Rivas. Skeete incorporates these narratives into live sessions, with plans to expand the series to six volumes incorporating magical realism and cultural iconography.
Skeete’s childhood experiences in Santa Rosa Heights, accompanying relatives to traditional house-to-house parang performances, profoundly influenced her artistic path. She later competed as a vocalist in secondary school parang competitions and has co-composed songs with her brother, Curt Skeete of Soñadores the Band.
The Parang Lab has already conducted sessions at numerous educational institutions including Ashley B’ Learning Academy, St Michael’s Anglican Primary, and Arima Presbyterian. Sessions typically feature traditional instruments like box bass, guitar, cuatro, toc-toc, and maracas, deliberately maintaining authentic musical roots despite the genre’s evolution toward concert-style performances.
Participating musicians include Dr. David Subero, Sebastian Subero, Ryan Wiseman, and several other accomplished performers. The program operates on an invitation-only basis, offered free of charge to schools, typically scheduling visits on Fridays. Skeete, who holds a degree in Latin American Studies and Spanish from the University of the West Indies, also serves as a program facilitator with NGO Vision on Mission, bringing professional expertise to this cultural preservation effort.