Dearest Pan Women,
I read most of the interviews with you on ‘When Steel Talks’.
Pretty impressed by all of the stories, how you all came in contact with Pan.
What strikes me the most, is the dedication you all have towards this instrument.
It is exactly the way I feel about Pan. Although I came in contact with it when I was 5 years old, it took me about 45 years to find someone who could teach me to play.
In the sixties there were a lot of steel bands here, due to the Dutch Antilleans, who came to Holland to get an educating or work. But somehow the people in Holland became less interested and now there are only a few professionals left.
A shame, but what can you do…
As you all seem so dedicated to this instrument, I wondered if you read about my project on São Vicente, one of the Cape Verde islands.
Since the ‘boys’ on WST hardly react I thought I’ll give it a go and see if the ‘girls’ are more interested.
Last February I introduced the steelpan there, during carnival.
As there is hardly any money there I was only able to get a free stay and meals for whoever wanted to join me. Only one came!
But never the less I took a few pans with me and taught the inhabitants of São Vicente how to play, which resulted in playing the carnival tune during the parade. I must say, that I was very surprised and proud they picked it up so easily!
They loved the sound of it and want to learn everything there is to know about it.
Now I want to start part two of this project and I hope you can help me in this.
They need some pans to start a small band, but they can’t afford to buy them. Maybe one of you has a pan somewhere laying around, which you don’t need anymore. Doesn’t matter what pan it is, they are happy with any pan!!!
I got an offer from two people who want to build pans over there, which I really appreciate. But there are no oil drums with the right thickness on Cabo Verde, so they have to be imported as well, which will also cost money.
So my hope is that you can help them. Read my former post about it if you have the time. And if you have any other ideas, please tell me.
Hope to hear from all of you soon, even if you can’t help. Just to know that you care about spreading pan to this country.
Here are two links from the carnival. Hope you like!
https://youtu.be/n6k1ceZ7-jY ( from 2.30 min.)
Kind regards
Deanne Pijl, The Netherlands
Comments
Thanks for your support Barbara, Brenda and Andrew. Will try to contact Pan Trinbago through facebook, 'cause they don't seem to have a mailaddress.
First, I must thank you for taking the music and benefits of the steelpan art form all the way to Cape Verde. That takes a lot of commitment and dedication on your part. Secondly, I suggest you contact the PanTrinbago office in T&T, they are the world governing body and should provide you with some kind of assistance. Also, contact some of the major colleges and universities in the USA with steelpan programs as well as some of the larger steelbands in T&T or in Europe which is closer to you. There is a very comprehensive listing of international steelbands at the Panonthenet website, check it out. When you can, listen to the "SteelpanVibes, It's More Than Music" radio show, Saturdays at 5pm EDT at www.hot947fm.com and send me an email at steelpanvibes@yahoo.com for more information. Keep up your outstanding work!