Blog 2.0

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/IAfofR2bj_k

https://youtu.be/n6k1ceZ7-jY  ( from 2.30 min.)

Kind regards
Deanne Pijl, The Netherlands

As I hope you all already know, I started a project about introducing pan on São Vicente, Cabo Verde Islands.

As this the site for developing pan all over the world, I hope to reach as much people as possible 

As a lot of bands in Trinidad/Tobago don't use mail, I hope you read this and help them to start a panyard.

My name is Deanne Pijl and I live in The Netherlands. And of course I play Pan.
Last February, during the Carnival, I was on São Vicente ( Cape Verde Islands) to do a small project, introducing Pan. They don’t know this instrument, never seen it, never heard it.

I had the opportunity to lend some pans from Nostalgia Steelband from London and took 5 pans with me.
My idea was to form a small band and play on the Carnival parade.
It was a great success!
They loved the sound and want to learn everything about playing pan.

Big problem.
Cape Verde is a poor country. Hardly any work there. So no money to buy instruments.

My colleague and me ( we are piano technicians) gave them 2 piano’s a couple of years ago, for almost nothing. This year I found a keyboard outside in the rain, dried it, worked fine and took it with me. The music teacher was very happy with it.

Well I think you know by now, why I sent you this letter.

Hope you can help them to set up a small pan yard, by donating a steelpan.
The music teacher Eddy Max,  asked the government for money for shipping the instruments, and they want to help him.

They also want to learn how to make one. Can’t do it myself, but I can teach them how to play. I don’t earn any money by teaching them, ( also tune there piano’s for free) I’m just doing it for the love of Pan and to help them in a musical way.

Really, really hope you are willing to help them and spread Pan to another part of the world.

Please reply, even if you don’t have the possibility to donate a Pan. Maybe you even have better ideas, how to start a steel band on São Vicente.
I know they will be very grateful. 

We had very little time ( only 8 days) and was very proud of them playing Pan as if they were born with it and could play the Carnival tune during the parade for 5 hours!!

Made a small compilation of it. Hope you have the time and enthusiasm to look at it and HELP THEM!!

https://youtu.be/IAfofR2bj_k

Kind regards
Deanne Pijl