Steel Pans

@Lore2009 (7378)
United States
January 1, 2011 11:28pm CST
Anybody here know how to play the steel pans? I just learned that they originated from Trinidad and Tobago and it was originally made from oil drums which stored oil. It was a form of communication for the enslaved Africans and it is the only new acoustic instrument introduced in the 20th century. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06eyqLosXjU&feature=related
1 response
hardworkinggurl
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
2 Jan 11
In high school I was part of what they call the Steel band. Yes it is made out of steel garbage bins. When I recently went to my reunion they surprised us with a current group who is playing it and I was invited up to play. Although I thought I had forgotten how to play, it came quite easy to do so. Almost like riding a bike and re trying after a several year break. It is still popular at my old high school and they still perform for a great many events.
Lore2009
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
3 Jan 11
That's cool. Yeah, there are a lot of bands with it but I didn't know about how it originated. Is it a difficult instrument to learn?
hardworkinggurl
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
3 Jan 11
A bit more difficult as you have to know exactly where to drum for the specific note sounds, but like every instrument you continue to remember each positioning then it comes quite easy.
Lore2009
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
6 Jan 11
That's so cool! Thanks for sharing!