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For booking info call Crick at
1.800.494.9084
or contact
cdiefendorf@nycap.rr.com |
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Tropical Beat Steel Drum Band performs in the Northeastern and
Mid-Atlantic states and for major events nationwide. |
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page 2,
page 3,
page 4 |
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The Steel Drum Band Movement
A steel band, commonly referred to as a “steel drum band,” plays
instruments that are recognized worldwide as the most important
acoustic instruments to be developed since the 1800’s and the only
family of instruments to be invented since then. The origin of the
steel band dates back to 1940’s Trinidad. Today there are thousands
of steel drum bands worldwide, many of which comprise over 100
players performing full symphonic works, jazz, calypso, and other
music from around the world. In the United States, a recent
phenomenon has been the formation of many large steel bands that
serve as not-for-profit community institutions that are also
dedicated to serving and uplifting economically disadvantaged
neighborhoods. While the strikingly beautiful sound of a steel drum
band draws participants from all ages and races, the core of most of
these steel bands are youth and teenagers who feel cultural pride in
being able to express music on steel drum band instruments which
were recently developed by peoples whose heritage they are closely
related to. Consistent hard work is required to produce the
professional sounding results necessary for them to compete in steel
band competitions, yet this type of steel drum band often also
provides academic, cultural, mentoring, and social activities to
their youthful members. The steel drum band movement has been vital
to transforming the lives of many of these youth by offering a
positive, disciplined, drug-free environment on a daily basis to its
participants.
In the United States, many people have begun to develop an
appreciation for steel drum bands. For these people, there are
not-for-profit community steel bands. It is common to see young
adults to older adults, as opposed to teenagers and youth, in
community steel band orchestras. This is an opportunity for steel
band enthusiasts to gather on a weekly basis, not for competition,
but simply for the love of playing in a steel drum band. Many
participants in the community steel band orchestras comment on the
sheer joy they get from playing steel drum band music in a large
group of twenty to forty people. Though these steel band groups
often have many members, there may be one experienced steel pan
player that leads and rehearses the community steel drum band.
There are also community steel bands that grow out of smaller
individual groups. It is also common for community steel bands to
host regional steel drum band festivals. Orchestras from all around
the region get together in a non-competitive, festive atmosphere and
play steel band music for each other.
Music programs in schools from elementary to university level are
also embracing steel band orchestras. While any well-trained school
music teacher can rehearse and direct a steel band, often the school
will employ an experienced professional steel drum band player to
work with the teacher and students. There is a unique set of
knowledge for steel drum band maintenance and care as well as mallet
techniques and other considerations that are specific for steel band
playing. New school steel band programs are often very surprised at
how quickly they can achieve an acceptable concert performance
result. While there are techniques such as rolling and dynamics,
which are central to fine steel band performances, an acceptable
sound can be achieved almost instantly since there are no embouchure
requirements as with brass and reed instruments and no steep
learning curve to create good sound as with most orchestral
instruments. Players learn almost intuitively to play on the sweet
spot of each note. Because the sound of a steel drum band is so
resonant and rich in tone, even a smaller steel band group that is
just beginning will produce results that will thrill audiences. |
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The Steel Drum Band
Movement - Part II
Many localities in the United States and elsewhere around the world have
small steel band performing ensembles, which are typically two to six
members. A small steel drum band of this type will often play for
weddings, barbecues, private parties, corporate events, and other
occasions that require steel band entertainment. Their repertoire
focuses mainly on more recognizable songs in the styles of calypso, soca,
and reggae. In the United States, some of these small steel drum bands
also include American beach music and other types of popular music that
they restyle into calypso or reggae. A six piece band of this sort might
have two or three steel drum band performers plus a rhythm section of a
drum set player, conga or percussion player, and usually electric bass.
The steel band bass instrument, called a six bass, has six full size
barrels and it’s often too difficult to transport and could take up too
much space in small performing situations. Hence, the electric bass is a
good musical substitute for the six bass in a small steel drum band. If
there were three steel pan performers in this steel band sextet, the
most common configuration would be: lead pan (also known as tenor pan or
soprano pan), a double second or double tenor, and any of the cello or
guitar pans. This gives the small ensemble three distinct ranges of
steel band sound. The lead pan is in the soprano range. The double
second, or double tenor, is in the alto range. The cello or guitar steel
drums occupy the range between the bass and alto. These three ranges in
a steel drum band are similar to a string quartet with violin, viola,
and cello and the bass range being played by the electric bass in this
case. This steel band would also be similar to a horn section of
trumpet, sax, and trombone with the lead steel pan range similar to the
trumpet, the double second similar to the saxophone, and the cello steel
pan similar to the trombone.
In the United States, these small steel bands owe much of their success
to the steel drum bands in the Caribbean who perform for tourists.
Before long, these visitors to the islands begin to associate the
pleasant sound of a steel drum band with their vacation experience. This
has lead many people to have island theme parties, events, and weddings.
The perfect musical compliment for these occasions is a steel drum band.
When guests hear the sound of the steel band, it reminds them of their
own vacations and it often puts them in the happy, carefree mood that
they now associate with steel drum band music.
There are many even smaller steel bands that often use a rhythm backing
device or recording to provide the percussion and rhythm necessary for
these island music styles. A steel band duo can be two steel pan
performers and the rhythm-backing device. For small events, a solo steel
drum band performer performs with the rhythm backing. He will play one
of the steel band instruments that are capable of melody, such as the
lead, double second, or double tenor. With a duo, the broadest range of
sound can be achieved by utilizing a lead steel pan player with a player
of any of the guitar or cello steel band instruments, but any two
instruments in different ranges will make for a good steel drum band
sound. These small steel bands are a low cost alternative for people
seeking to create a Caribbean atmosphere for their events. |
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The Steel Drum Band Movement – Part III
There are many individuals in the steel drum band movement that play
mostly for their own enjoyment, much like a pianist or guitarist who
makes music mostly in their own home. Some use “music minus one”
backing tracks while they perform the melody on their steel band
instrument. Others might play classical pieces, gospel music, as
well as jazz and popular tunes in a solo style. While they may not
experience the thrill of performing in a steel drum band ensemble,
they derive enjoyment and relaxation from playing alone on the steel
pan. For many younger players, the purchase of their own steel band
instrument gives them a learning advantage over players who perform
in steel drum bands and who can only access the instrument during
rehearsal. Also, these players sometimes do not play at all when
school is out of session or when a steel band is not preparing for
carnival. This could interrupt the musical development of the
student. The newer generation of steel drum band players in
Trinidad, the US, and Europe learn music notation as a student would
with any other musical instrument. However, many older steel band
players learn and play by ear and many individuals who learn to play
steel pan also play by ear. This is similar to someone who plays
guitar and can play songs and chords without learning to read music
notation. This can work well especially for people who only want to
play for their own enjoyment and not with a steel drum band ensemble
that may require the ability to read and learn new music rapidly.
In the steel drum band movement today, there are several key players
that facilitate a successful steel band program. Among these key
individuals are tuners, bandleaders, arrangers and promoters. Steel
band tuning is a specialized craft that requires years of training
by an individual who develops the unique talent to hear multiple
pitches within one note. Tuning a steel band instrument is many
times more difficult than tuning a piano or any other pitched
instrument and it requires a good deal of time to tune each steel
drum band instrument in an orchestra. Steel bands often hire tuners
on a yearly basis to retune their instruments at a set price per
instrument. Because there are so few tuners in places like the US,
they often travel to the location of the steel bands. Often,
individuals who have their own pans will arrange to have them tuned
when the steel band tuner is in town. Large steel drum bands
sometimes have their tuner make a certain number of new steel band
instruments each year as they retire older instruments from use. The
bandleader is normally the key person who starts and keeps a steel
drum band functioning. They arrange for the purchase of the steel
band instruments, which can be quite a financial undertaking. They
locate, train, and encourage players to join the steel band. They
call the rehearsals and arrange for performances. The rewards are
many but it takes a dedicated individual to be a steel drum band
leader. Steel band arrangers provide the music that steel bands use
in competitions and performances. For large panorama and festival
events, these will be custom arrangements suited to the
instrumentation of a specific steel drum band. In Trinidad, the
arranger is paid for this work and may also receive a large cash
award if his steel band wins the competition. Many arrangers also
make “stock” arrangements that schools and community steel drum
bands can purchase. The bandleaders, tuners, arrangers, and the
promoters of the various events and festivals work together to
present steel band music to audiences worldwide. |
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