A place like NY where we have so much bands and very few tuners and pan makers, my question is why dont we have some class or something to teach the younger generation how to make and tune pans. I was looking up on line and the places that do teach are universities and most may not be able to afford that. I think that is something the NY steel band community should looking into
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Thanks London for starting this post. For some WST members here, we may be apprehensive with a tidbit of fear for the future of pan, but for the most part I am confident that pan is set to prevail. Each one has to start in their local setting and create a sound teaching/ learning environment with structure and non-egocentric individuals forming a pan community.
Mike
Hi Gerard, Dr. Copeland, Claude, Wayne and others.
Fortunately, we in Toronto are blessed to have Rudy Martin Joseph (no relation), a panman from Boissiere Village, Maraval, Trinidad teaching us for the past couple years. Gerard Clarke met Rudy in July of this year and could also verify this info. Rudy played with All Aces and Casablanca stage side and learned music under Art DeCoteau. Rudy has a keen sense of pitch (maybe perfect in my opinion) and loves to pass his pan knowledge on. He has an extensive resume as a world-traveled entertainer. Rudy is still playing in his 80s and also still teaching pan tuning to some of us in Toronto. You may also verify this info with Salah Wilson, a PhD. candidate at York University. Very soon I will be releasing a segment of a video interview conducted with Rudy Martin Joseph and Gerard Clarke. So don't change the dial. Stay tuned.
Mike
I for one would love to learn, I thought about going in trinidad for some years to learn but income comes in to play
On point Patrick.
Most of the teachers dying or already gone. nobody though to archive the process for later
Ellie Mannette has been taking care of that all across the UNITED STATES and EUROPE!
Many people talk about wanting to learn the pan making and tuning skills, but many don't have the belly to go the distance to become good at it. I'm talking 6 to 8 years!! This is not a 1 year training program where you get a certificate of participation and you are off to panyards to tune people's pans. I know many who have started and quit within six months with statements such as "da wuk too hard!" "Show meh where to pound to fix notes, so that I will learn how to correct pans". I know three certificate holders, who never picked up a hammer since receiving their certificate.
Passion is one of the main ingredients,patience,dedication,plenty grit and determination.....bad mind! You can learn the theory of pan making but with basic tuning techniques,you have to self develop. While there are basic things that work for many, each tuner has his own unique self developed approach and even when something works for you on Monday it does not on Tuesday, but you have to get there, so it's an on going experiment....an abstract science.
I always hear people say tuners don't want to pass on knowledge. I can tell you of programs that started with many people and closed with a few. One must be able to stay the distance and success will be inevitable.
The latest thinking is that you need 10,000 hours to master a skill
On point!
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