Panyard Import Series steel pan class band pack

Steel pans have been made in Trinidad and Tobago since the 1930s and are traditionally made from discarded 55 gallon oil drums. They are often called steel drums, but as the entire instrument vibrates to make their sound they are more correctly referred to as idiophones, the same percussion family as cymbals. The cool tones they produce has become synonymous with the laid-back sunny atmosphere of the Caribbean.

Panyard are an American company that have been building pans from specially made steel in Trinidad since 1990. Each instrument is tuned in their Ohio workshop by experienced specialists using the latest technology before being shipped to after school clubs and steel pan enthusiasts all over the world. The Import series features their mid-range pans, and this starter pack contains:

• 1x Chrome lead pan
• 1x Chrome double second
• 1x Painted triple cello
• 1x Painted six bass
• Sturdy powder-coated height-adjustable and collapsible stands for the upper three instruments
• Rubber feet for the six bass
• A pair of mallets for every pan
• Sheet music for a selection of popular ensemble arrangements

Playing a steel pan is a musical experience unlike any other, not least because the layout of notes on each surface is completely unique to these instruments. They are fun and easy to start playing but take a long time to master. This makes forming a steel band an ideal activity for after school clubs, and there’s no better way to start than with Panyard’s exceptional value starter pack.