Steel pans, or steel drums, were created on the Caribbean island of Trinidad in the 1930’s, but steel pan history can be traced back to African slaves brought to the Caribbean during the 1700’s. Steel pans are percussion instruments usually heard in annual carnival activities and have become a staple in Caribbean culture. Raised areas of the pans or drums are molded in specific ways to create different sounds.
With no prior experience needed, this introductory course will give students a basic understanding of technique, rhythm and style found specifically in the classical music genre through steel pan. Students will also learn improvisation, terminology, history, skills and technique in addition to complete performance tasks and music projects centered around this instrument.