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Steelpan Fever: A Steelpan story

Posted by Lisa Darmanie, Founder/Director Alabanza Music on 4th Feb 2018

It's Carnival time in Trinidad and Tobago and around every other street corner is a steelband, with players from the community working to piece together those 6-8 minutes of music in preparation for the greatest steelband (Known in the US as the steeldrum) festival/compeition on earth called "Panorama". This weekend was the Junior Panorama competition where young people from schools across the country come together while Carnival Saturday is the culmination of the adult bands. People come from all over the world to view this musical spectacle! 

We know that steelpan is our national instrument and of that we're proud. It's the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century and a product of a community effort after years of repression but how much do children really know about the steelpan?

Here's a locally produced short story the kids and parents can watch to learn a little more about the history and making of the steelpan.