CBC News
Toronto, Canada - ....For Wendy Jones, the month of July is usually filled with the rhythmic sounds of steel pans and performances throughout the city on Carnival's biggest stages. Jones has been playing steel pan since the '70s and is the leader of thePan Fantasy Steelband orchestra. Her instrument of choice: the six bass.
....During carnival season, you can find anywhere from 80 to 100 steel pan players in and out of their warehouse headquarters, known as the Pan Yard.
"This is the first year in all the years … that we haven't played on the road [in a parade] or played in the festival itself," Jones says, adding that it has been emotional to be apart from the team. "The band is not just here to play, it's a family. And because we're a family it brings us all together."
Jones says they're using technology like Zoom and online chats to keep the band connected and the music going, with hopes they'll be back together in person next year.
"We haven't stopped rehearsing, so that gives us an opportunity to come together and just work with each other in that context."
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