The debate is still open as to whether or not the Golden Hands panyard is actually a panyard. Vanessa Headley, the band's 23 year old award-winning arranger and CEO believes that the space is unconventional by Trinidadian standards. "What we know as a typical panyard, I wouldn't say that this is a panyard. And this is in no way to shut down panyards because a lot of what we know as our culture has come out of panyards, but the environment is definitely different," she says.  

The small San Fernando band that began 19 years ago with Headley's mother, Franka Hills-Headley, giving her daughter lessons in the back yard, has adopted a more academic approach to music. "Its more like an institution or a college of pan. We do music theory, music practicals, we teach techniques and it's a just a place to be comfortable learning and it's the most hands-on approach in doing that," says band captain Pete Braxton, 23, a recent UWI graduate who works with the Ministry of Education's Pan in the Classroom programme. This hands-on approach extended itself last year to include in-house welding and painting of racks for Panorama – a feat that Headley says brought band members closer together.

With members ranging in age from 5 to 26, operations are run entirely by young people under the guidance of founder Hills-Headley. The arranger, captain, vice captains, artistic and communications director are all between the ages of 18 and 23. Their youth is no indication of their experience, however, as each can boast more than 10 years of performance and study of music in some cases up to the tertiary level. Music literacy is important to members for various reasons. First vice captain Keon Marcano, 21, feels that literacy makes musicians more marketable. "If it is you are representing Trinidad on the International stage and you're not able to read music and someone tries to have a conversation with you, it could be embarrassing or uncomfortable," he says.  

Music literacy also helps the band to move pan outside of a season nature. "We play pan all throughout the year. We enter different competitions such as music festival. We do charity events, Christmas events. We try to keep the band alive. We don't come out just for Carnival because really and truly if you come just for Carnival is like you do it just for the money. Pan is something we love," says Braxton.  

Joella Moore, 22, artistic and communications director, believes that Golden Hands is not just about "beating pan" but a place where any of the students' talents can be nurtured. She credits Hills-Headley for giving the band a strong foundation on the meaning of music. "Golden Hands is Auntie Franka. Growing up we're in her space, her house. She put onto us some of her values and principles like praying and that music is a spiritual thing. We all like music and playing music but music is a spiritual thing and she taught us that. And we have to praise and thank God for it. So the vibe here is one that cannot be explained. You more feel it when you come here."

Golden Hands' young leadership sees their positions as both a privilege and responsibility. "There's no other band really with people our age who have these responsibilities. It's more the older heads who dictate it," Marcano notes.

Yet, the serious attitude members take towards music does not mean they do not enjoy playing. Moore describes the band as having an open, family atmosphere. "You come here and feel welcome. It's an environment where you can come and be who you are. I feel that is what draws people to come here. We have our own space here. We are allowed to come here and free-up as long as we don't bad behave. Yes we have rules, regulations, but it doesn't have anything better than this. It's a family. You come here and it's just a pleasure to be around the youth vibrations, the youth vibe," she says.

In the two years Golden Hands has competed on the Panorama stage, they placed second in 2010 and tied for third in 2011. Their Panorama success follows years of competing in World Steelband Music Festival, the Trinidad & Tobago Music Festival, Junior Panorama and touring and competing throughout the Caribbean and North America of which the evidence can be found in the numerous trophies littering Hills-Headley's home. These extensive travels have also had an influence on the band's diverse repertoire. "We play Trinidad music, old calypsoes, new ones, R&B, jazz. We got into zouk after going to Martinique. You can tell a story of what the band has been through from the music we play," says Headley.  

The band is also influenced by a plain and simple love for what they do. "It's just a love for music; a real, real deep passion. Its just one of those things I don't believe I will ever let go of. I based everything in my studies on becoming a better musician. For a lot of people, they love music and do something else, but for me this is my something else and I love music," says Headley who attained a first degree at UWI and will be continuing her studies later this year at Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA.

Whether Golden Hands is a panyard or not, Adriel Bailey, 18, first vice captain, sees the organisation as a quintessential part of his Trinidadian lifestyle. "I've been doing this since I could remember and it's just something I've grown to love. This is ours. This is a Trinidadian thing."

About Golden Hands

Location: 134 Independence Ave, San Fernando

Size: 45 members (Panorama) 100 members (year round)

Arranger: Vanessa Headley

Panorama Tune of Choice: "Sweet Music" Lord Shorty

2011 Place: Second in the Small Conventional Band Panorama Competition