Pantonic Steel Orchestra hosts Workshops for UConn Steeldrum Students

Stage side members of four-time New York Panorama champions recently

welcomed students with a penchant for pan from the University of Connecticut (UConn), to their Brooklyn practice room for a steelpan workshop. The structured session began with a performance exhibition of Pantonic flagship selections including Trini To the Bone, Celebrate and Time After Time.

The students included Music Education majors and others with an

interest in music, all of whom were band members of UConn Steeldrums. The inclement weather this past Saturday was no match for the determination of the band members and their teacher, Dr. Robert W. Stephens, to journey to Brooklyn, New York for the band's first-ever steelpan workshop.

UConn's budding steelpan players included, but were not limited to, Courtney Brock on double seconds, Susan Barb on tenor, John Gorky (who started playing a mere two months ago) on tenor, Aaron on guitar pans, and Colleen Morris on double seconds.

Colleen started off playing steelpan in middle school, and has continued for about two and a half years at UConn. An interesting addition was Catherine Kuby, who said she just decided to join the UConn pannists for the ride to Brooklyn, but eventually tried her hand on the six-Bass. From the looks of things by the end of the workshop, UConn Steeldrums could be looking at a brand new member to their line-up.

At least two of the pan players were Music Education majors, but John Gorky, for

instance said that although he was a Math major, his real passion was music, and ruefully admitted that the latter was quickly becoming his focus. Another UConn band member was majoring in Psychology.

The visiting players lapped up the performances by Pantonic Steel Orchestra, their eyes growing wide as each selection performed became even more spirited.

The enraptured visitors ensured they did not miss the techniques and sense of touch on the pan instruments which were very much in evidence throughout Pantonic's execution. The UConn players had a couple of question and answer sessions, to which Pantonic band captain Keith Roberts and other players responded with full explanations. The students also learned first-hand of some of the trials and hostile environment conditions faced in the New York steelpan world, and also about the annual difficulty and expense of procuring panyards for the panorama season. The inability of most bands to continue to practice/ perform outside of the annual Summer season was also explained.

After Pantonic completed their first exhibition session,

the UConn students themselves had the opportunity to get behind Pantonic's instruments. The host musicians looked on, giving pointers, and providing hands-on demonstrations on the various pan instruments. A couple of the students moved around on different pans other than their instruments of choice.

Kim Chambers who drums for a small rock 'n roll band, told When Steel Talks that she has been helping out with the percussions in the UConn steelband,

especially within the last few weeks. She jumped at the chance to accompany the band, and to learn more about the drumming techniques utilized within the traditional steel orchestras. Kim struck it rich twice as she not only picked up tips from band captain Keith Roberts, but also got a short but intense session on Yamaha Drums with one of Pantonic's star drummers Joel John, who literally "held her hand" to give her more of a feel for the pulse of the music.

Almost immediately Kim got her chance to put into practice some of what she had just learned, during the joint music spell that followed next, when the UConn players practiced an impromptu version of Arrow's Hot Hot Hot.

As soon as they all felt more comfortable with the new rhythms, a "jam session" between Pantonic and UConn Steeldrums took place. The UConn students became more ecstatic as they began to feel even more at home with the music. There was also an opportunity for UConn to play one of their selections as Pantonic Steel Orchestra looked on.

The students said that they all look forward to the time when their steeldrum

passion "pans" out into a course they can take for credit, and hope that the University makes a favorable decision to include it into the present music program. In keeping with their seriousness on the steelpan art form, some UConn band members also plan to undertake a journey to the home of Steelpan, Trinidad and Tobago, in the near future.

It is the first time that UConn Steeldrums have been afforded the opportunity to partake in such a unique steelpan workshop.

At the beginning, the members said they hoped for better understanding of the "message" of the steelpan, and to leave with an appreciation of the traditional style of learning, the techniques and styles used in playing, mannerisms, etc - and of course, an up-close personal look at the presentation of the Pantonic players as they went through various musical styles including, but not limited to: pop, R&B, and of course, soca. UConn Steeldrums determined that in this way, they could give more attention to the authentic feel when executing music on the steelpan instruments. At the end of the workshop which spanned some three hours, the students gave voice to their experiences with Pantonic during the sessions which, they said "were simply awesome."

As his students tried their hands on the pan instruments under the guidance of Pantonic's musicians, Dr. Robert W. Stephens, Professor of Music in the Music Department at the University of Connecticut, spoke with When Steel Talks and said that he had the idea of the workshop because he used to work as a teacher in Bedford-Stuyvesant, and he was familiar with pan from then. Stephens said although there were steelbands in Connecticut, he believed that it was very important that UConn Steeldrum students have the opportunity to experience first hand, the instruments played by people who are the "originators." Dr. Stephens also thought it critical to observe that process in as close to its natural environment as possible.

He noted that although his steeldrum students read music and learned to play in that manner, it was important for them to come down and experience the fire and passion that emanates from the traditional steelband musicians, many of whom - in addition to reading music themselves - learn and play music, by "ear" and "rote." This takes the form of listening, and of seeing the patterns on pans, then committing to memory their respective parts.

The music professor said that he absolutely anticipates increased interest and participation in UConn's Steeldrum membership.

Dr. Stephens actually includes pan as part of his own music course at the University, although it is not yet possible for students to opt for the steelpan as their instrument of choice, as is the case in other educational institutions such as Northern Illinois University, and Florida Memorial University. The UConn Music Department, Stephens says, understands that this is his area of specialty, and supports his innovations within his courses. He is extremely optimistic that the conditions are sympathetic to eventual recognition of the Steelpan as an official instrument and even a course within UConn's music curriculum.

Meanwhile,

after the jam session with Pantonic Steel Orchestra, the hosts delivered the second and final steelpan exhibition performance. Dr. Stephens and the UConn Steeldrum visitors capped their visit off with a trip to the nearby home of Pantonic president, Glenda Gamory.

Contact Pantonic and Glenda Gamory at 1 (718) 434-0231, and at Pantonic1@aol.com.

Pantonic Steel Orchestra connects with UConn Steeldrums