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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
Liam Teague just spent a week in Fairbanks, Alaska with the community steelband Cold Steel and the West Valley High School culminating in a concert yesterday afternoon. Here is the link to last an hour radio interview from Friday filled with solos that he performed in the studio.
Liam is on his way home to prepare for the NIU Spring concert webcast on April 26 and Liam will also be at the Kennedy Center on May 29 and 30 with the National Symphony for the premiere of a new Andy Akiyo concerto for pan and orchestra
Check out Pandaddy, Richard Rudolph of Roanoke, VA celebrating his 65th Birthday today, Monday, April 6, 2015. We’d like to wish Pandaddy, the happiest of birthdays. One amazing guy who has probably taught more people to play steel pans than anyone else in the world. Who else can teach and run eight steel pan bands at a time and also launch and teach 150 elementary school kids in Franklin County, VA the steel pans all at the same time.
Richard is the owner of Quest School of Music in Roanoke, VA http://www.questschoolofmusic.com/#!classes/cr6k
Richard’s dedication and efforts are tireless and his love for teaching steel pans and bringing out the music in us all is amazing. Happy Birthday Pandaddy. Many more!
