Steel Pan Lessons in Tampa, FL
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Our Approach to Steel Pan Lessons at Tampa Music School
Here at Tampa Music School, your Steel Pan teacher will champion your individual sound as well as encourage your input on repertoire choices. Steel Pan performance is meant to be a joyous celebration of life, and your lesson time will reflect that tradition. Your collaboration with your Steel Pan teacher will be both technically thorough and richly creative.
As they increase your abilities, upper elementary through high school-age students will have the opportunity to perform with Tampa Music School’s Steel Pan band, the Show Steelers. Within this group, you will not only continue to learn discipline in your performance but also learn to work as a team. Our students go on and on about the fun of playing in this special ensemble. The Show Steelers have participated in many local and statewide exhibitions and festivals.
Of course, most students don’t come to us with prior experience in Steel Pan, so lessons must start with the basics of good musicianship.
If you or your child want to learn a truly unique and fun instrument, why not consider Steel Pan lessons? Here at Tampa Music School, we are thrilled to be the only school in Florida (and maybe the entire United States) to offer a community accessible Steel Pan band.
Steel Pan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. It looks like a sawed-off steel drum with a concave lid. To play this unique instrument, the player (called a pannist) strikes Indented ovals within the lid with rubber tipped mallets. The instrument is tuned so that the player can produce different pitches in the scale by striking in various places. Steel Pans come in several different classifications, such as tenor, rhythm and bass. Pans can be suspended from the body for mobile use or mounted on a stand.
Proper performance on a Steel Pan produces a bright and exciting sound that you may identify as an island or Caribbean sound. Professional pannists can play with great speed and are capable of producing a rich variety of chords and sound combinations.
Steel Pan Lessons Should Be Fun!
A good musician must first have a competent grasp of the inner workings of music in general. Your performance will be a much more meaningful experience if you understand the building blocks that make up your repertoire. This knowledge is gained through instruction in music theory, ear training, sight reading, and musicality.
Mastering these skills is a huge part of becoming a well-rounded performer. Your Steel Pan teacher can effectively weave this instruction into your normal lesson time.
We Emphasize Healthy Technique
At the same time that you’re learning basic music principles, you will also receive instruction in proper Steel Pan technique. Your teacher will work with you to establish proper balance, spacing, stance, and drum placement.
Once correct posture is established, your Steel Pan teacher will instruct you in proper mallet grip. Specific “touching” movements (as opposed to hitting) will produce the bright, bouncy sound consistent with Steel Pan music.
Additionally, you will learn exactly how notes are played on your Steel Pan as well as proper execution of chords, scales and sustained notes.
We Care About Your Musical Interests & Goals
Steel Pan players enjoy performing music from many different genres. In addition to traditional island folk tunes, Steel Pan is also a fun vehicle to perform styles such as Jazz, Latin, and Classical.
Your teacher will be happy to give you exposure in many different types of music. Maybe you will pick one style that you are passionate about, or maybe you will thrive on dabbling in a bit of everything. The choice is yours. Your Steel Pan teacher is there to support and inspire you.
As well as exploring different genres of music, students are encouraged to bring their personal favorite music playlists to lesson time. Nearly any song can be adapted for the Steel Pan. Tampa Music School believes that if you truly love your repertoire, it will shine through in your performance.
Our Steel Pan Teachers:
The value of a partnership between an inspiring musical mentor and a dedicated student cannot be overstated. Every instructor at Tampa Music School has a vast knowledge of their instrument. They are passionate about passing down their love of that instrument to their students.
We offer a variety of plans to fit your schedule & budget
Weekly 30 Min
$160
Month
Great for learning the basics and building strong foundations.
WEEKLY 60 MIN
$290
Month
Longer sessions, great for motivated, intermediate or advanced musicians.
What you can expect
1. Tell us about your musical goals.
2. Match with one of our expert instructors.
3. Play music! Parents get progress reports.
Common Questions
Barbara B. | Parent
“I have learned so much about working within a band. Matt has been very supportive of all members and has an obvious understanding of how each instrument within the band can be showcased and contribute to the overall sound. I’m very grateful I’ve found such a nice studio right in my community.”