The Beating Heart of Music - By Kim Johnson

Anyone playing pan music will tell you that there is something special about it. For some, it is the love of the sound. Pans make some of the melodious music out there. For others, it is the ability to play music competitively. We all know Panorama is the crown jewel of pan competitions. Pan players are also notorious for wanting to be better each time we play. We compete against ourselves and others. There are those of us who just like being considered musicians and love creating music with others. There is a camaraderie - mainly because it is not something others do.

It wasn't until I heard Dr. Kim Johnson doing a TedTalk that I really felt a deeper affinity to steel pan. Johnson is the creator of the film Pan! Our Modern Odyssey.

On Fridays we usually find a great steel pan performance and plug that on one of our social media outlets. This Friday, I am offering up this video for your viewing pleasure. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Beating Heart of Music - By Kim Johnson (TedTalk, approximately 20 minutes)

2015 Pan People Music Festival Talent Set!!

                                                                                  Photo of Pan Jumbies

This year's 2015 Pan People Music Festival talent lineup is set This year's groups promises to deliver  some memorable performances.

1) Bison Pan Groove - Led by steel pan artist, Don Prorak, this band is made up of students from Second Creek Elementary in Commerce City, Colorado. It will be the youngest and one of the largest groups performing at the festival. Some of students' parents may also join in to perform with their kids. 

2) Rocky Mountain Steel Bands - RMSB is made up of several community groups and is led by Rick Henson. Those in this group vary in skill level and music experience. However, every player in the group is a lover of pan. RMSB have performed a numerous festival, fairs, farmers markets and charity runs along the Colorado front range. RMSB also offers summer camps for kids during the summer. 

3) The Pan Association - TPA and includes Steel Pan Collective board member Andrew Neldon. Several TPA members have played in Trinidad's Panorama competition. The group performs steel pan in various musical styles ranging from traditional Calypso to modern jazz. The Pan Association also holds a number of workshops, clinics, and lessons for those interested in steel pan.

4) Pan Nation - Pan Nation is led by Tom Miller and includes members and graduates of DUs Lamont School of Music. Several members in this group are accomplished composers and soloists. Pan Nation concerts are known for its artistry, innovation and incorporation of various music styles. The group's versatility has them playing everything from traditional steel pan compositions to pop tunes. 

5) Pan Jumbies - Led by Don Prorak, Pan Jumbies and is known throughout the area for its fun and entertaining shows. In addition to steel pan, marimba plays an important part of this group's lineup and makes for great sounding tunes. Pan Jumbies performances are guaranteed to get you up and dancing. 

Learn more about each of the groups

Can Steel Pan Programs Last?

                                                      Members of the Miami University Steel Band

The recent April Steel Pan Collective newsletter struck a nerve. After reading through the two Profiles in Pan (Jerry Lopatin and Chris Tanner), we realized that a common theme kept coming up - lack of resources. Could that be the problem in the troubled marriage between pan programs and schools?

We know for a fact that when a pan program gets up and running it is usually successful. Chris Tanner said that a new program was cropping up in southwest Ohio alone every 15 months. There are some very dedicated pan leaders and champions out there pushing to keep pan in the forefront.

But what happens when that instructor or champion moves on or retires? Are they leaving behind pan programs too vulnerable to budget cuts and a lack of pan educators to continue the program? We are starting to wonder if U.S. programs are centered too much around the instructor and not on the instrument.

Jerry Lopatin's story was one that got us thinking. He built what was and still is considered one of the more sustainable pan programs in the country. But when Jerry finally retired from teaching elementary students for 30 years, his replacement was not pan trained or familiar with running a pan program. Jerry even offered himself up to others in the district. No takers stepped up. So the kids' pan program died from neglect. The pan world lost another generation of future pan players.

So what are some possibilities to reducing the risk to pan programs?

1) More Pan Instructors - Clearly, there are not enough instructors trained in pan, running pan programs, or who understand the versatility of the instrument. More exposure to the instrument might help. We do our part by playing concerts/festivals in our local communities. Education and certification in pan is one such option for those with an interest in teaching pan. Who does it and where that happens still has to be figured out?

2) Music Education - Scanning the web will provide a listing of various music education programs. Few offer pan as a principal instrument. If steel pan is offered at all, it is likely lumped under percussion instruments. It might make sense on the surface. But consider this. A whole orchestra of sound can be formed with steel pans. Can the same be said for drum sets or congas? Maybe its time for pan to step out of that catch-all category of percussion and take its rightful place alongside piano as a special kind of "percussion" instrument.

There is still hope for pan in the U.S. The pan community can either work through the existing traditional university system or come up with an education alternative. Being the rebels we are at the Steel Pan Collective, we lean towards the latter.

There is no reason why pan can't live on in programs around the country. We don't have to rely completely on one person or champion to carry that burden. That may be too big of a risk to pan's future in the U.S. It is a solution we all need to solve together.

Stand and Play!

Steel pans are a physically demanding instrument. Just getting instruments to and from gigs can take a toll on any pan musician or group. But there is so much more to the instrument. "Playing" steel pans is just as physical. It just makes sense that the better you use your body, the better you play.

One of the struggles of steel pan players is where to stand in relation to their pan(s). Here are some suggestions from the website MyPanyard:

1) Pans should be position waist high,
2) Give yourself about five inches out from the pan to allow for movement,
3) Feet planted firmly on the ground.

We have found at the Steel Pan Collective that keeping elbows at or little above waist high works well too. Using foot mats are ok because they take some of the pressure off your feet. Keeping pliable knees and loose shoulders also prevents strain and injury. Staying limber and loose is one of the keys for getting the most out of your steel pan playing.

MyPanyard offers specific suggestions for tenors, doubles, guitars, quadrophonics, and basses. General resources such as the Musician's Way also offer suggestions that will help you play better and for longer.

This is the season when our steel pan gigs and performances pick up. Events and festivals, like the 2015 Pan People Music Festival, are chances to showcase our talents. Making sure your body is prepared for the season will make sure your performances are the best.

How Different Steel Pan Gigs Pay

"Music is spiritual. The music business is not." - Van Morrison

McDonald's recent decision to now pay bands for playing in its SXSW Showcase was huge. The reversal comes on the heels of a scathing Facebook post by one of the bands, Ex-Cops.  The post offered a blistering account of how the company asked participating bands to come and play for free.  In return, bands were promised increased exposure. After intense public pressure, McDonald's finally got the message and backtracked. The whole situation is another reminder of that age old problem artists face - getting paid.

It got us thinking about our steel pan community and how we survive when it comes to gigs. It doesn't matter whether you are a seasoned professional or a community band playing a local farmer's market. You have to be compensated for your time, talent, and effort. Here are a couple of thoughts on the types of gigs steel pan musicians run across.

Paying Gigs
It is a very simple concept. You show up, play, and someone pays you money. Hopefully, it will be in a currency you recognize. How and what amount varies on the arrangement and event. Typical arrangements gigs range from by-the-hour to a flat fee. Paying gigs are most common for weddings, private parties, concerts, festivals, etc. The promoter will often times pick up your expenses if the event is large enough.

Pay can also vary based on how much business you can bring into an establishment.  You might see this when working with clubs and bars. The person doing the booking is banking on your band bringing in enough people so they can make a profit on the food and drinks sold.

Gigs that pay in food, access to special services, or the promise of future gigs are riskier. You are in essence paying for free in a gig that is making money off your talent. Those kind of gigs can suck the life out of you. And when it comes down to it, promises and free food don't pay the rent. Here are a few tips on negotiating the best deal.

Pay for Play
Pay for Play is without question one of the most controversial gigs available. The Steel Pan Collective is not a big fan or supporter of any deal where you pay the gig to perform steel pan. We believe you should be paid or understand upfront it's a volunteer event. Pay for Play is not a win/win for everyone involved. Someone always goes home a loser and it is usually the musician. Look at it from the event planner or promoters point of view. Not paying performers makes for a better bottom line for them, especially if they charge the public AND the band.

The only time you should pay to play is if you are taking lessons or if you enter a steel pan competition. Your payment might come in the form of fees on the front end for the latter.  However, those fees are another expense steel pan musicians and bands have to cover on top of travel and accommodations.  This ultimately cuts into any profit you hope to make.

Pay for Play gigs are ones you should be particularly careful about. Websites like Neverpaytoplay.com offer some additional hints to look out for.

Volunteer Gigs
These gigs are the kind you do for a good cause or a specific non-profit. The event is not expected to be a huge revenue generator. The promoter ends up shouldering the burden of raising revenue through other means like sponsorships. Some non-profits or special causes will offer some kind of payment to musicians in the form of a small fee, T-Shirts, merchandise, food, or access to other events.

The difference between Pay for Play and volunteer gigs are the reason for the event. In a volunteer event, everyone participating believes in the cause and it is their way of showing support. Organizations like Musicians on Call take it a step further and organize volunteer musicians to go and play for hospital patients. Your performance at a volunteer gig furthers the cause of the organization and makes you feel good too. Your payment comes in the form of a good deed.

So what has been your experience? We would love to hear what makes for a good or bad gig when it comes to getting paid. Drop us a line at info@steelpancollective.org.


Thinking of going to the 2015 Pan People Music Festival? Bring a friend and we'll see you in Denver.

Top Three Reasons for Playing in a Steel Pan Band

"Band members have a special bond. A great band is more than just some people working together. It's like a highly specialized army unit or a winning sports team. A unique combination of elements that become stronger together than apart." - Steven Van Zandt.

The Steel Pan Collective is a community of steel pan players and band members. Everyday, we hear and see stories of why playing in a steel pan group is so special. It doesn't matter whether someone is a solo steel pan player in a jazz group or one of of many players warming up for Panorama, there is an appeal and attraction to playing with others.   Here are our top three:

Camaraderie
There is a special bond among steel pan players. We don't talk about it. It is a feeling. We know we are doing something cool, something unique. We cheer each other on no matter what.  It could be in rehearsals, traveling to a gig, or performing on stage. Steel pan players belong to a special musical family. And like any family, no matter the ups or downs, the love shines through. Watch a steel pan performance on YouTube. See what happens when players make eye contact with each other. Chances are you are going to see a genuine smile come over them. They share a love of playing steel pan.

Overcome Risks Together
Getting that new piece of music can be overwhelming. Once a steel pan group overcomes the initial shock, they get to it and learn the piece. It takes time. But bit by bit, note by note, they find a way to get through it. We help each other figure out the hard parts. Steel pan players will play a piece  several times until it sounds right. Even our best professionals iron out the details. They too, will practice something over and over again.  And that's ok because steel plan players are truly invested in creating the best sounding music on the planet.

Shared Learning
Learning steel pan has changed little since its beginning. Many of the early players learned by rote. That tradition continues today. Most players are shown the notes and the pattern to play. They watch others over and over again before trying it themselves. When a difficult part comes up, the ask someone. Eventually they get it because its a supportive, learning experience for everyone.

Part of Something Bigger
There is nothing like being in a steel pan band. It is one of the best parts of playing. Your growth happens because you have a chance to be a part of something special, something bigger than yourself.  That is what steel pan is all about.

Those smiles will be on display at the 2015 Pan People Music Festival. Come and see what it is like to be part of a steel pan band.

Denver's 2015 Pan People Music Festival

Registration is now open for the Denver 2015 Pan People Music Festival. We are looking forward to showcasing the steel pan talents of musicians and bands. The musical performances are open to the public and are free. We will also be offering the chance to attend the SPC networking reception and dinner as well as the film Pan! Our Modern Odyssey. Those two events require an advance ticket purchase.

We are so excited to host the upcoming 2015 Pan People Music Festival in Denver. It promises to be a great event. The team is working hard to get preparations under way. We are especially excited to be holding it on the Auraria campus in downtown Denver.

Our partners for the event is University of Colorado at Denver's College of Arts and Media. Luckily for us, they will be holding their summer camp for high schoolers during the same time. The camp is called Lynx and is part of the Lynx National Arts and Media program. For many of the camp attendees, it will be their first exposure to steel pan. We love sparking some interest. Who knows? Some future players may come out of it.

We were especially excited to already see our information up on When Steel Talks, the website for steel pan news around the U.S. That was cool.

Be sure to continue to check our site for the latest info. Don't forget to register too!

Hope to see you at the 2015 Pan People Music Festival.