Local Band News
Zetland Primary School Redcar Year 5 and 6 pupils are continuing their steel pan success and looking forward to performing at the end of term.
The new Redcar and Cleveland Steel Band meets there each week and current members range from Year 3 to Year 9 pupils. New members are always welcome at the school in Redcar Lane, Redcar and sessions run 3.30 – 4.15 every Thursday during term time. For further details please telephone Hilary Holden on 01642 603600 or email hilary.holden@stockton.gov.uk.
Tees Valley Music Service has now placed a set of pans at Bydales School in Marske until the summer, before starting a new primary project.
Shotton Hall School Steelband from Peterlee have 7 bands within the school, not all performing of course, but involving 60-70 players and rivalling Monkseaton Middle in size. Like many schools music teacher Andy King is struggling manfully to keep all 7 bands active and gets some help from older students which is really useful.
Monkseaton Middle School
Steelbands (7 of them now) took part in the school residential music weekend recently. Pan Tutor Holly Connon held 6 steel pan workshops over the weekend with different groups, some already pan players, some had never played before. The players seemed to really enjoy themselves. Holly is concerned that for all players volume control is a necessity to be enforced during workshops. Good earplugs are available from music retailers (also from Musicians’ Union).
Teacher Andy Carr plans to record the more experienced bands before the end of this term.
Rocket Panners
Having lost most of our players to High Schools in September 2007, the new, young players in the band are shaping up very well. They are gaining skills and confidence rapidly, and are full of enthusiasm. Jenny continues to tutor them and is arranging music just for them to perform at school events and Steel Spring 2008.
Deneside Community Association
In Seaham have recently reformed with some funding from the council and a second pan hire period with SN. Unfortunately this runs out at Easter and tutor Gail Forster and the players are hoping that they can locate some cheap (free?) pans soon to continue the project – can anyone out there help please?
They are running with two school bands at Seaview primary school and a family/community band under Seaham Academy. They had a great time at Steel Spring last year and hope that they will still be playing at this summers event.
Chantry Middle School (Morpeth) have entered two bands into the Wansbeck Music Festival in March. The festival has relocated to Chantry School for the night to accommodate the pans as they were too big for the original venue. Each band has a few new players this term who are all doing well says tutor Jenny Gilberg. Chantry players can continue panning after they leave the school now that King Edward VI school has its own pans.
U CRE8 (Shildon, Co.Durham)
Are based at Chilton Primary School, visit their website - www.ucre8.org.uk for info.
King Edward VI High School (KEVI) (Morpeth)
Had a great inaugural gig as part of the school Xmas concert and have really made great strides in just a term. They are all quite committed musicians and are looking to complete their line up with bass pans in the near future under tutor Jenny Gilberg.
Steelworks
Following their successful tour to Oberhausen in 2007 Steelworks have been invited to return. Middlesbrough’s first community steel band will be performing in their twin town may 22-28, they will provide a pan workshop for German young people as well as entertaining the public at various locations and events across the town.
Visit www.steelworksband.com for info
North Tyneside Steelband (NTSB) had to cancel their residential workshops at Seahouses in January due to high winds making it unsafe to tow trailers. They made the most of the situation by running extra workshops over the same weekend at their Langdale Panyard. Their AGM in January was rounded off with an informal concert (see Gig Review) and wine and cheese refreshments.
This year they are entering Music for Youth festival after a couple of years break, and two local music festivals – Ryton and Wansbeck; both fests will be seeing steelbands for the first time.
As usual the band is looking forward to a busy summer which will see their new minibus and trailer start to earn its keep.
Wellfield Middle School, Whitley Bay
Have just bought some second hand pans to bring their band up to a nine piece. Tutor Laura Atkinson says the current players from year 7 are doing really well and she is looking forward to working with more players in the near future.
Sunshine Pannershave been having a busy winter. In December they played at a charity firewalk on the Quayside and on a Tyne cruise.
The band had a days workshop with Wendy Brown, learning two new pieces of music. They were involved with a Creative Arts weekend at Haydon Bridge High School where about 10 children chose steel pans as thier focus for the weekend. 4 new players have asked to join the band after that.
Practices for a busy summer are well underway.
One of the highlights of the summer looks to be a trip to Ireland to
Sunshines’ Lydia Coulson doing a little tuition ‘on the road’ in Ireland
perform at Glenarm Castle Highland Games from the 12th - 15th July.
Looking further ahead, booking is now underway for Sunshines 3rd trip to Trinidad and Tobago for carnival in 2009.
A new CD was recorded in time for Christmas. This will be on sale this summer with the proceeds going towards the Caribbean trip.
They will spend two days performing and use the remainder of the time for rehearsal and sightseeing.
Many local bookings are already lined up in this area and the Borders.
Stanley School of Technology made a good start last term culminating in a very successful set in the school Xmas concert. The band went through several personnel changes right up to the day but tutor David Beasley pulled them through. They are looking at ways of embedding steelpan permanently in the school now.
Jarrow School steelband played the Sage on the 30th Jan, in the foyer and it went really well, they’re waiting on new pans to improve the bands stock.
Monkhouse Primary School, North Shields
are looking at extending pan provision through their school and into neighbouring schools with a SN outreach set. Tutor Claire Falcus reports good progress from the first, year 5, group but echoes Holly Connons concerns about playing volume.
Kingsmeadow Steelband have had a very exciting half term in France. Their year 7 and performance bands auditioned and were accepted to perform at Disneyland Paris!
Kingsmeadow ‘under the sea’
22 players travelled by coach and stayed 3 nights visiting Paris and Disneyland as well as playing at the resort. ‘It was a really worthwhile exercise’ reports teacher Julie Robinson ‘which even impressed the ex-sergeant-major coach driver, we all had a great time.’ Julie says the cost was quite reasonable; anyone wanting to try it themselves can pick her brains at
robinsons31@blueyonder.co.uk
Plan a weekends workshops at Ridley Hall following md Louise Brydon being awarded a £500 community grant by her employers BT in recognition of the bands work with young people. They hope some players from other bands will be able to join them.
Chilli Road band made an early start to their season with a concert at Heaton Methodist Church. Md Paul Fletcher said this enabled them to rehearse a double performance set, and the acoustics were marvellous.
Chilli Road School (where Chilli Road Band are based) have a year 5 band which is progressing really well, and a year 6 band who are becoming seasoned performers under tutor Gill Graham. They hope to be able to continue playing after they leave as the local high school has plans to get pans very soon. Several high schools are starting to realise that they inherit a pool of talent from primaries with steelbands each year.
LOCAL STEELBAND CONTACTS
This definitive list has been requested by several people wanting to book, join or make contact with bands.
email dave@steelbandsnorth.org.uk to add your bands details
steelbands who perform in public regularly and which anyone can join -
Chilli Road Band –
Paul Fletcher 0191 265 0304
Holly Connon
– holy_cow_69_149@hotmail.com
Newcastle All Stars Steel Orchestra –Louise Patrick 0191 270 2705 / 07775 803 815
North Tyneside Steelband –KarinaAtkinson@hotmail.com 0798 685 6783
Pantastics
Sunderland, Gwyn.Owens@virgin.net
Sage Adult Steelband Wendy Brown, TSG 0191 443 4666
Steel Quake –
Kath Hall, Wooler 01668 281091
Steelworks – Brian Wise, M’bro 01642 315244
Sunshine Panners Haydon Bridge, 01434 684422 Barbara Mansfield
other steelbands, mostly schools, catering for their own students, but doing some performances-
Abingdon Road School
Moira Ross 01642 210567
Bedlingtonshire High School
Chantry Middle School
Veronica
Chilly Road School –
Paul Fletcher 0191 265 0304
Down The Pan –
Andy Carr, Monkseaton M/Sch. 0191 200 8715
Jarrow School
Jill Gillies jillgillies@btinternet.com
Kingsmeadow School,
Julie Robinson 0191 460 6004
Milnthorpe School –
Andy Whitfield whitfieldesque@hotmail.com
Monsoon
KarinaAtkinson@hotmail.com, powerjen_@hotmail.com
Rocket Panners –
Donna Gilberg, 0191 200 7365
Shotton Hall School Steelband
andyking@aol.com
Stainburn Steel – Paul Witty, 01900 3235252
Steel Attitude–
D’ton 01325 241191 Joanne Davies
Steel Fret –
Pat Adamson, pat14@supanet.com
Tees Valley Music Service
hilary.holden@stockton.gov.uk
Ucre8 www.ucre8.org.uk
Precious Metal.
KarinaAtkinson@hotmail.com 0798 685 6783
several other schools have steelbands but do not take an active role in the network
Worlds most remote steelband
has to be Ferblan & Co from Reunion. Consisting of Ludovic Pérez: ténor, Mariette Dubois: triple basses, Ludo Jouanet: double seconds, Jean Pierre "Jipi" Lignon: triple cellos, and Eric Lucilly: drums.
Created in march 2007. this is a first steelband in Réunion Island (south-east of Africa). Influences are calypso, waltz, samba, latin and the music of the Indian Océan (maloya/sega).
They also have a parade band of 4 to10 musicians.
They would like to meet other bands and artists to test out new ideas. Anyone fancy a trip to Reunion?
They plan pan workshops for children and adults on the island in the near future. Good luck Ludo.
ludo.perez@wanadoo.fr
http://myspace.com/ludoperez
Gig Reviews
We start this time with a review from New York, we’re sure you can pick out similarities with the north east situation.
“A Christmas Delight” was particularly focused at work in Casym’s schools and training classes led by members of the main orchestra who train and arrange for the various groups.
CASYM’s introductory class started; headed by Tony Williams who works in various schools throughout the city. 25 nervous young panners played favorites Winter Wonderland, All I want for Christmas, and Joy to the World, and an arrangement of Alicia Keys No One.
The next group, a dozen students from Brooklyn’s P.S. 149 led by Joalene Griffith and Natalie Wint offered “We wish you a Merry Christmas” and “Someday at Christmas” the band and co-arrangers gave just a taste of their budding talents. As a new project for the band, the parents of CASYM’s members performed “Silver bells” and a Caribbean classic, “A drink of Rum” under the leadership and arranging talent of Travis Roberts were quite nervous from only having 6 rehearsals. Class 2 were next. Some of the members of this group competed in the Wiadca’s 2007 panorama at the same Brooklyn museum in September. Again co-arrangers Joalene and Natalie were behind the arrangements this group performed. Edging at 30 players this group of mostly pre-teens held their own as they played “Someday at Christmas”, “Have yourself a Merry little Christmas”, “Blame it on the music”, “No Woman no cry”. They even utilized a young soloist by the name of Seonn Jacobs to play a solo in their rendition of “This Christmas”. The last number saw Travis in a Santa costume and a mini skirted Mrs Claus acting a comedy mime as the band grooved. It was only when Mr. and Mrs. Claus had receded from view that the audience started to sing the chorus energetically: “Santa looking for a wife!”
As the evening closed with final words and thanks from the Executive Director , William Jones (Jonesy), he band offered their appreciation to the St. Gabriel’s Community Church in Brooklyn for supplying a place to practice. All in all, from the reaction of the players, tutors and audience, the show was a success. Some reflected that they were growing tired of waiting for panorama to cause something to happen with the instrument.
Thanks to our NY correspondent.
Volcanoes at The Sage Dec 16.
This was part of a day of informal concerts by some of the Sage youth ensembles. Volcanoes were noticeably slimmer (collectively, not individually) than last year and there are some notable gaps. The music didn’t really suffer though. The varied set of about 20 minutes was interesting and entertaining. Tutored by Wendy Brown the band
had a few rehearsals rearranged or cut last term and were consequently a little more under-rehearsed than she or they would have liked, and the players were aware of this which made them a bit nervous. Still it was a good indication of their capabilities and potential and stood up really well against the other ensembles on show. If they get back up to last years size (20-25 players) and their rehearsal schedule is maintained they should be well worth a listen at Steel Spring. There should be another chance to see them at the Gateshead Jazz Festival in late March.
MMS and NTSB Jan 30
NTSB usually lay on some sort of event to attract players and parents to their AGM, this was such an event. After the short meeting the three NTSB bands and a guest band from Monkseaton Middle strutted their stuff for a short set each. The MMS band, led by Holly Connon, were a couple of players short and felt a little intimidated playing to so many panners (many of the NTSB players were, or still are, at MMS). But they did well with the help of a borrowed drummer and panner from NTSB, and delivered a smooth and varied programme.
NTSB have three bands, training, intermediate and performance and each band played a representative selection from its repertoire and one or two which they are still working on.
The night was for players really and everyone had a good time, especially when they all had a chance to play a couple of standards together at the end. This was a nice idea and helped to address the problem of players in this region rarely having the opportunity to hear another live steelband.
Equipment review
An often neglected but essential part of the panists needs are sticks. These are what lie between the player and the instrument and are the communication channel which lets the players’ ideas and feelings flow through to the pan. Many players take them for granted, but there are several options when it comes to choosing sticks. Many bands carry a range of sticks to cater for the differing tastes of their players; many discerning players obtain their own sticks even if they do not own a pan themselves.
The usual type are hardwood with rubber tips which are available from most makers and catalogues, but lightweight aluminium are also commonly available. A decade or more ago players often made their own sticks by wrapping wide rubber bands or bicycle inner tubing around dowelling, but the use of surgical tubing has led to more consistency at a higher price. Makers will tell you that the best rubber tubing can cost £100 per metre or £3 for a pair of tenor tips if you want to make your own sticks. The tips are sometimes available in varying densities – hard, medium, soft etc. to suit players’ preferences.
We must stress that even with the best sticks and pans in the world, without good grip, control and technique the resulting sound will not be good.
We are indebted to three suppliers for providing sticks for this review. Sticks reviewed are each from ranges covering all pans from tenor to bass.
Firstly Music Education Supplies (MES) www.mesdirect.com supplied a pair of tenor sticks cat. No MES657, price £9.75pr. These are from the Pan 2000 range by Panland (pans in MES catalogue, and others, are usually made by Panland). They are labelled as designed by Leroy Wilson and have a Sure Grip handle. They are a little on the short side at 165mm but within the normal length range. The Sure grip coating ends in a sharp point which needs trimming for playing comfort. The wood is varnished, good quality hardwood not easily available in UK. The tips are probably medium density which allows a good sound to be produced from most or all of the notes on a tenor, as does the good weighting of the sticks.
This is a good pair of sticks which work, and last, well.
As a contrast we are also reviewing a pair of sticks from SDS (US) www.steeldrumshop.com. These are listed as Combo Mallets (double ended sticks). They are somewhat longer (200mm) and lighter wood than the Pan 2000 pair, and without the Sure grip. There is a tip on each end of the sticks, one small, one normal size, possibly different densities, allowing the player to use the optimum size tip for different sized notes. This idea works well if the player spends a little time practicing swapping the sticks around whilst playing. They are a little too long for my personal taste, although this is easily sorted with a small saw. Again the tips are the usual good quality rubber (available separately from website), and the list price is $12 (around £6-£7).
If you find a product which suits you on the net it’s probably worth sticking with it provided you don’t get stung with postage charges; but it is possible to source good sticks within the UK, even locally, which will be cheaper and easier to access. Like pans you should specify what your preferences are with sticks so that you get exactly what you want.
Thirdly Scarlet Roots (www.thepanyard.ch) from Switzerland sent us a pair of aluminium tenor sticks from their Rainbow range, so called because they are available in about 10 anodised colours. Of average length (178mm) these are very light resulting in a gentle touch and sound; price is around £13pr. The tips are coloured rubber, fairly soft and available separately (around £3pr).
Each pair has a distinctly different feel and choice is down to preference, maybe price also. For bands we would probably recommend the wooden sticks from MES as the most suitable for use by a range of players, and they’re not too badly priced. Similar quality sticks are readily available from most pan makers for around £5pr, but perhaps not varnished or with smart logos on. For individual use all of them would be well worth considering and will give good results depending on your preferences and playing style.
Don’t forget that postage costs need to be added when buying from catalogues or the web, unless you go to a retail music shop which deals with MES, where prices might vary.
It’s well worth looking at all the websites for info and bargains, although MES offers panners little to apart from an awareness of the price of their one range of pans (Calypso) of limited quality.
Thanks to all the suppliers. We hope to carry reviews of pans and other essential equipment in future issues, let us know what you think.
Letters - a heavy postbag this time.
Happy new year! I received SN newsletter today and I'm glad to see that it's getting fatter! I haven't read everything yet as I've had a busy schedule but I immediately empathized with "Puzzled's" problem. I can also understand the difficulty UK customers have with importing sets of bass and larger background pans from T&T. Paul, Switzerland.
It’s not always ‘fatter’ Paul, we like to give value.
Thanks for the newsletter. Pan is vibrating at every single corner throughout Europe. Pan people speak different languages, have different customs and methods of operation, different values and laws we uphold. Yet we are all united in our love for the instrument! Pan Jumbie, Switzerland
Nufsed.
There is a need for a professional and reliable attitude among all in the pan world. Unfortunately in this country I still hear stories of teachers abandoning their schools for overseas work, and unreliable performers not turning up on time etc. This gives the whole scene a bad name. Trinipan
I agree that Panyard has vastly inflated prices - how on earth do they get enough business to stay afloat? We also have problems here with sourcing good quality pans. Some suppliers seem to think that they can get away with selling thin weak pans which cannot hold their pitch, and think that we musicians won't notice. Luckily I know some very fine tuners who take pride in their work. ?? France
Same problems – reliability and trust – humans!
Hopefully, this album will cause other youths to ask questions like, "Why can't I put out an album?" and "When will my band teach me music theory, so I can understand what I'm playing”. NY minipanner.
This was a follow up comment on a cd by a youth steelband in NY. The new generation of pan MUSICIANS want theory too – can we provide it?
In a few years there will be more steelbands in North America than Trini. Due to developments in technology TnT can now have a global impact. However, if you are in first place and don't know it, you might as well be in last place. The pan scene in Trinidad has its head in the sand. We only remember pan comes from there because its invention is so recent. In 100 years time will we remember? It will be irrelevant then. Get real and get on with the music, That is what pan is for. Anon
Typical of a few similar anonymous comments. It’s not a bad idea to be aware of your roots though.
I went to music college with people who now work as teachers or in other fields, not as musicians. I am very lucky to make a reasonable living as a pannist - I teach pan, and am a soloist. However, are my clients who book me for their parties and wedding receptions interested in hearing me play Bach and Mozart, or even Kitch or Holman? No, they want Yellow Bird and Harry Belafonte and Bob Marley.
That’s life, start with Yellowbird, etc. then move on to Bach etc, even arrange a medley. Music is to enjoy, uplift and also to educate and feed the imagination. Do it well, your audiences will love it.
…get some judges that have a wider range of what is a "good" arrangement and we'll see a better panorama. The arrangers are just trying to win and seem to be compromising musical integrity. Arrangers like Ray Holman are the exception whose arrangements would always earn respect from any music lover. Panoramadrama queen.
It is important to have an end to just pan players and have a generation of pan musicians... there is a difference and I think that individuals like Ray Holman, Robert Greenidge, Liam Teague, Arddin Herbert, Yohan Poplewell, Jit/Amrit Samaroo, Clive Bradley (RIP), understand this point. Pan Pam
Many people feel that Panoramas are holding pan back in the past. They have their place but the real work goes on elsewhere.
CD reviews
MES (www.mesdirect.com) have sent a review copy of Calypso and Soca from their Rough Guide to World Music series. This is aimed at giving school students a good introductory background to these styles of music and the tracks are carefully chosen to provide representative historical and modern examples. Although there is no steel pan playing on the cd, it does feature several artists who’s music is widely used by steelbands (Kitchener, Sparrow, David Rudder, etc.). At £6.99 this is very reasonably priced and will do exactly what it sets out to do – give the listener an informed background knowledge of these styles; it’s well worth a listen and the contents should be in every panners musical psyche.
For Sale 2 sets of standard 6 basses from "C" , 1 x set of 6 bass from "A" and a tenor bass/4 bass from "F". One "C" bass is second hand, the rest are new. Details from SN.
On The Net
www.Panyard.com
www.steelpansttil.com
www.mesdirect.com
www.steeldrumshop.com
www.thepanyard.ch
www.foxwoodsteelbandits.com
www.panpodium.com
and http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KdhlYdbNk0
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VBCK0arS9yl
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KaiUlxOMGw
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VdrUjRSQYuc#GVSUZspHl_4 for UK Panorama performances
PanKat We are trying to arrange a demo of Pan Kat in the region by a top UK player. This should be late March, contact us for info.
Pan maker/tuner contacts
Steelbands North can confidently recommend these makers -
* Dudley Dickson, London 0778 859 8884
* Toussaint Clarke, Bath 01225 428872
toussaint@strictlypan.co.uk
* Grafton Yearwood, London 0208 475 0451
pantuner_grafton@hotmail.com
These makers are founder members of
UK Pan Tuners Association
pans also available from
Tony Charles, Terry Noel, Aubrey Bryan, Felix Joseph, Riley, Paris (London), Victor Philip (Coventry), Leroy Sylvester (Leeds), Norman Stewart (B’ham) Roosevelt Watts (M’ter)
SN produce leaflets giving advice in buying, maintaining and insuring pans which can be requested by email, all free.
Tuning
Dudley Dickson will be tuning in NE mid March; contact SN if your pans need tuning.
Pan dates –
Wed 20 Feb NTSB U12, U16, and over 16 bands
at Ryton Music Festival 8pm
Sat 8 Mar 10am NTSB at M4Y regional, Blaydon
Thu 13 Mar 6.30pm Chantry steelbands (2) at
Wansbeck Festival Morpeth 6pm
Thu 13 Mar 6.30pm NTSB U13, U16, U18 bands
at Wansbeck Fest 6pm
End March Volcanoes concert at Sage TBC
29 or 30 March Volcanoes at G’hd Jazz Festival
Fri 5 July NT Fest of Steelbands TBC
19 or 20 July Steel Spring @ Sage TBC