Extreme importance of parents to steelbands

[Pan Times]

Grenada, W.I. -  They are seen night and day in and around the steel orchestras of Grenada; and, for the most part, they do not and cannot play any instrument – even the most basic two-note “doo-doop.’’   However, steelband leaders admit that their orchestras will be unable to function without them.
 

“They are extremely important. They are equally important as any pan player,’’ Brian Sylvester says in reference to parents who are the virtual backbone of his steelband, Republic Bank Angel Harps, and other steel orchestras.
 

Lime Commancheros of St. Paul’s has formalized the support of its parents. They are known as the Parent Association of Commancheros.
 

“They play a critical role,’’ says Stephen Greenidge, an arranger and senior panist with Commancheros. He’s the only male member of the Parent Association.
 

“The parents come together as one big family. They raise funds, they cook and give general support and provide whatever help they could,’’ Greenidge explains.”

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[jerome ebenezer clarke]

If it,s possible to get these youths to at least start with the doh,,reh,,me,,,fah,soe,, and so on it will give them a better feel of what stelpan is about, on your behalf a job well done keep on going.

[glenford peters]

So true, I support these efforts as a parent of a pannist. Steel Orchestras today are made up many younger players who dedicate themselves to the more complex arrangements as the older heads retire or move on to the less sophisticated bands.Keep loving up the pan and cooking up a storm for those long rehearsals. I zah pan lover too.