What are your thoughts on music ?

What does music mean to you ? 
If there are over 20 views and responses in the comment section I will post a cover or lyrics of one of my songs in the next post. 

What is music to me ?

                   What music means to me 

Music is my heart beat. It's what keeps me going when I feel like giving up. It makes me feel alive and exuberant and it heals my pain. I've known my love for music all my life. At the age of seven I began writing my own songs as an escape and form of expression but as soon as I could talk, I was singing or  humming a melody. I know no matter where I go in life I will always have music whether I decide to pursue it career wise or not because it's a part of me. The strum of a guitar and a sweet chord can ease my anxiety, bring a smile onto my face and make everything stand still for a single moment.

Music is such a huge part of my life. I play piano and guitar, congas, recorder and i'm learning pan, box bass, cuatro and ukulele. I have sang in choirs and I am a member of a Parang band. Music brings people together many of my best friends and I have met through some sort of musical activity or connection. "People who make music together can not be enemies at least while the music lasts." This page is just my way of sharing my love with others so you yourselves can discover the wonders of music and how it can change your life.

I love music so much that my sixteenth birthday party was music themed.

Thanks for all the support on the first post! Shout out to Christina Nigelle-Williams , Kamaria Charles Richards and the others who commented on the last post.

Viva La Parranda!

Hola/ Bonjour/ Hi from your local music guru ! 

 I absolutely love Parang music. Do you? 
Around Christmas time persons often hear sweet Parang on local radio stations or are graced with a home visit from local Parranderos but what is Parang? Parang derived from parranda meaning “a spree or fête” is the lively celebration of the festivity of the Christmas season. It hails from Venezuelan and Columbian migrants who brought their music and culture with them to Trinidad.  A traditional Parang band consists of singers and musicians who play the guitar, the mandolin, the cuatro, the violin, the maracas, the clapper, the box bass, the tambourine, the scratcher and the toc-toc. Other non- traditional instruments like the flute and steel pan have also been used. The traditional Parang songs are Christian and are sung in Spanish, however, secular styles of Parang do exist such as Aguinaldos and Despendidas.

Over the years, Soca-Parang, a mix of Traditional Parang and energetic Soca, has developed as the art form is ever-evolving. Not only do Parranderos go from house to house singing and dancing to neighbourhoods to spread the joy of the season but they have also become a staple at Christmas functions and concerts. The hot spot of Trinidad Parang is the hillside village of Paramin. 

The Parang season begins in mid-October and goes until January 6th, the official end of the Christmas season. The merry atmosphere represents togetherness and the joy of the good Trini Christmas lime.The Parang season this year is coming to an end. Newer bands like Armonias Magnificas, Los Sonidos and BB Serenaders have had a great run this season as well as more established bands like Voces de Promesa, Los Alumnos de San Juan and Voces Jovenes. 

Picture of Armonias Magnificas the two- time winner of the NPATT( National Parang Association Of Trinidad) Secondary School Parang Competition. 

Let me know about your favourite Parang bands and songs.  I'm curious to discover what you guys like. The first 5 people to comment will get a shoutout in the next post!