Shon Wilson on bass guitar at Holland High School in Trelawny. - Photos by Robert Lalah

He might well be the next music genius to come out of rural Jamaica. His immediate objective, though, is to master those pesky fractions in math class.

Shon Wilson is a willowy 12-year-old in seventh grade at Trelawny's Holland High School. He loves science class, detests math lessons and is always eager to get in a good game of football whenever possible. Nothing unusual there. What sets young Shon apart from his friends at school are his skills with musical instruments. To be clear, Shon isn't just good at one instrument, he's a full-on specialist on the bass guitar, keyboard, drums and clarinet. Oh, and he sings too.

"I can't really remember a time when I wasn't playing an instrument. From as far as I can remember, I was playing one instrument or the other at home or at church," said Shon just after midday at school, recently. He had just finished performing a rendition of Bob Marley's One Love on keyboard in the newly refurbished music room.

In his blood

Kerr

His music teacher, Joseth Kerr, could scarcely contain her pride.

"You'll notice him helping the other students and telling them what notes to play," she said, smiling.

Shon has been playing the drums since he was three years old. His father is part of a band that performs small gigs around Trelawny. Even before he started school, Shon spent hours watching his dad perform and slowly picked up the basics of the drums and keyboard.

"Music is just in his blood," said Shon's mom, Denise Wilson.

"Every day when he comes home from school, he rushes to get through his homework and it's straight to his instruments," she said. Shon uses his father's drum set and keyboard at home.

"He loves music and I tell him that someday he can become a musician, but he has to focus on school first," said Mom.

Shon, though, needs little encouragement.

"I love music. I play at church and at home. I want to learn even more instruments, as many as possible. I know I can be great; just give me time," he laughed.

robert.lalah@gleanerjm.com