Tuk 101 DVD Donated to the NCF

POONKA DONATES TUK DVD TO THE NCF
With a common goal of preserving a legacy of indigenous music/rhythms

The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) became one of the most recent recipients of the Tuk 101 instructional DVD developed by Wayne ‘Poonka’ Willock.

This “How To Play Tuk” teaching tool is intended not only to inform, but also to preserve the legacy of the art form for generations to come, through fusions with other rhythm patterns and genres of music.  This is a factor that the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Cranston Browne thinks will be fundamental to the creation of unique indigenous beats for Barbados.

Expressing elation on behalf of the NCF, Browne remarked, “It is very important that this be included as a part of our library especially for research and documentation purposes. They are so many benefits to be derived from such a tool that actually teaches the art form – among other things it will certainly guide some of our music workshops.”

He continued, “Initiatives like these, from experts in the field, will ensure that our young people understand the evolution process and Tuk’s sphere of influence on different rhythms.  That knowledge we both agree will in turn sprout the growth of fusions and unique rhythms on the local music landscape, something that is much needed to define the nation’s musical identity – our own rhythm.”

In making the presentation to the NCF, Willock lamented that over the years the Tuk band has become a dying art form.  His efforts to revive it have been a journey of exploration not only in its traditional form, but also with a few decades of his own experimentation with non-traditional infusions of Tuk and Calypso music, which he affirms is now a fairly common theme if you listen to the current rhythm patterns.

He added that this Tuk 101 instructional DVD has already been donated to each secondary school on the island, to ensure that within their music and social studies departments they will have a historical representation of Barbadian culture and indigenous music.