Some people discover the career path they will follow from as early as childhood.
Others, like Quianna Mahabir, miss the initial signs but catch up along the way.
From banging on pots and pans as a child to getting in trouble for beating rhythms on the desks in secondary school, the 26-year-old Mahabir, of Cunupia, never expected to be picking up the tempo as the drummer in an all-girl band, and the founder and teacher at a drumming school.
“I always saw music as a hobby and not something I could pursue as a professional,” Mahabir told WMN. “I played the drumkit in church, and I always enjoyed doing it, but I never thought I could make a career out of it. Maybe it’s because I never really had successful musicians around. I always tell people I didn’t choose music. it chose me...I major in percussions and I can play other instruments, but drumming is my heart.”
Initially, she wanted to study law, then aviation. The latter, she said, is still not completely off the table.
For over eight years Mahabir has been the drummer for the band Axia Nation, formerly Nehilet Blackman & D All Girls Band. She has also played with other artistes, including gospel singer Jaron Nurse, and for Panorama with the Tunapuna Tipica Steel Orchestra – an experience from which she was able to gain valuable drumming skills. but which didn’t sit too well with her mother.
“Drumming for Panorama teaches you a different type of discipline in drumming. because there is so much acoustics going on at the same time...I’m a believer. like my mom, and at that point she did not agree. because she felt I was placing myself in an environment that was not in keeping with what we believe.
"But it was a personal decision and it was a job. I went, did what I had to do and left. I know what I believe, and the environment did not affect me in any way.”
Mahabir started the Siu Generis Sound Drumming Academy in 2016, as a result of her exposure with the band, and in church, people began asking her if she was willing to offer drumming classes.
“Siu Generis means ‘unique’ in Latin,” she said of her choice for the academy’s name.
“I started with two students. We started to grow because of my vision to see music played and taught. I worked hard on building the foundation and the brand.”
She said she later had a vision of starting a programme to train young people to play in a band setting.
“We started off with churches, and eventually it went to other locations in Central, east, and west, where people of all ages came and learned for eight weeks, at minimum cost. After that we had a graduation and awards ceremony.”
The academy is based in Longdenville and currently has over 30 students enrolled, ages five and up, learning to play drums and keyboard.
“Pre-covid, we offered just in-person classes, but the pandemic has encouraged us to expand. Even when we resume physical classes, we will still maintain some online classes, because I’m also aiming for regional and international students.”
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