Derrianne Dyett
Biography
Derrianne's fiery passion for music became evident around the age of 13. Her growing musical curiosity lead her to birdsong Academy where she supped on the rich tableau on offer, opening her up to the untapped possibility of the steelpan. Derrianne quickly became a valuable member of the birdsong community participating in all of the elite ensembles in the Academy such as the Steelband, the Orchestra and the "Small Ensemble" as well as moonlighting as section leader for the panorama season. Nurtured by the late Raf Robertson and Richard Quarless and profiting from the interface with Frankie McIntosh, Rudy “Two Left” Smith, Happy Williams and Andy Narrell among a network of visiting artists, she began to take her obvious gifts seriously. In this regard, her teachers at St. Joseph’s Convent, St. Joseph and St. George’s College, Mr. Anders Kapell and Ms Vanessa Marcus respectively provided rich counterpoint to birdsong’s dominant themes, and guided her completion of CXC and Cambridge Advanced Level Music studies. In such circumstances, any lingering doubts about her musical destiny were laid to rest by birdsong’s decision to support her ambition to pursue further musical studies abroad.
Under full and part time tutelage of John Clayton, Gene Jackson, Marc Van Roon, David Berkman, Wycliffe Gordon and Tatiana Koleva among others at the Prins Claus Conservatory in Holland where she pursued she first Bachelor's Degree and now a Master Degree at the Cordats University of the Arts, Derrianne has learnt to understand and apply the nuances and responsibilities involved in being a professional musician. Since the commencement of her Bachelor's degree, she has performed as a Sideman, Leader and Arranger and Composer with a number of ensembles including the Grey Monsters band, Freddie Bryant, Michael Moore, Derrianne Dyett Trio and Quartet, Bang Trio consisting of Organ drums and steelpan. Derrianne has even performed with Geert Chatrou- world champion whistler to name a few.
Derrianne With the Grey Monsters
Derrianne’s talents have graced the stages of the Barbados and Trinidad Jazz Festivals, various Calypso/Jazz clubs around Trinidad, Sounds of Music Festival- Groningen and various clubs on the Groningen Jazz circuit winning the Leiden Jazz Award audience prize with her band "Grey Monsters". On her annual sojourns home, she functions as a faculty member at the birdsong Academy teaching; Harmony and Aural Development as well as innovating methods of Steelpan teaching through arranging and tutoring.
Equally passionate about teaching as she is about performing, Derrianne dreams of significantly raising the bar that has been set for "great" steelpan players especially in but not limited to the jazz world. She is making steps towards affecting and developing the techniques and methods of Steelpan performance and teaching; subsequently publishing informative books as well as practical study material on the subject.