Solid Hoop Steel Drum Pan

Ancient history says that when man started his quest for music, percussion instruments were the first to have been created. It is a basic human instinct to beat against solid objects in search of sounds, if possible rhythmic sounds, which provide some food for the soul. So when you next listen to the heart thumping and face melting drum beats of an international rock band, do remember that its origin lie in some innocent effort centuries ago.

Steel drums or steel pans as they called and the subsequent steel drum bands, have a similar history. There was some form of ‘drumming’ within African tribes since some centuries, which were part of rituals or merry making. However it has its origins and evolution in the Caribbean island of Trinidad. The industrial revolution had European nations taking a large number of slaves from Africa to these Caribbean islands, to work in their coffee plantations. It formally took shape during the turbulent times of World War II. The frustration of slavery, the constant oppression and struggle again the colonial rulers and the melancholy of being away from their land and culture gave rise to the invention of the steel pan, the only probable link of the slaves to their roots.

The steel drum helped minimize the aggravation of slavery and was also potent means of communication within the islands. It started with the humble instruments called the “Tamboo-Bamboos” that required bamboo sticks to be beaten onto the ground to produce sound or hit against a gin bottle with a spoon. Slowly this gave way to more sophisticated instruments that involved some rejected metal piece from an automobile. Tamboo-Bamboo bands had taken shape by the 1930s; proper steel drum bands had sprung into picture by the mid thirties and by the 1940s one could not miss in them in carnivals for the lower strata of the society.

Since these were also used as a communication device, the colonial rulers of the slaves had their reservations against the usage of these, for the fear of revolt or passing of secret information through beat patterns. Strict laws and in certain cases even bans were imposed against the steel drum bands and the beat of the steel pan. These measures actually accelerated the evolution of the steel pan, since a ban one instrument gave way to the invention of another.

Gradually some amount of “rhythmic science” also got infused within the creation of the further variations of the steel pan. Musicians found out that the steel drum changed pitch after they are beaten for some time. These drum were a bit rudimentary instruments, convex in shape, but the changes in pitch were dynamic and not intentional.

Later Anthony Williams came up with a structured arrangement of notes that became the standard for steel pan notes. After couple of failed researches and initiatives, “PANArt” in Sweden researched and successfully productized steel drums using the fine-grain sheet technology. Today electronic steel drums have also been developed and steel drum bands have come a long way. They however owe the first steps to the persistent African aborigines that were there in Trinidad more than half a century ago.

Caribbean Steel Drum Band

Caribbean steel drum bands are today very popular musical instruments for special occasions like wedding, parties, and other fun settings. This popularity however comes from the opportunity that a steel band got to perform at the common wealth ceremonies, and since then have become popular in different countries. Many people have the wrong notion about steel drums that they can play only a specific genre of music. But this is not at all true. Caribbean Steel Drums can churn out nearly all kinds of popular tunes ranging from hip hop to jazz to western classical. They have a very high tempo, and produces repetitive beats- the perfect combination of parties and other events.

But over the years it has been seen that steel drums are at their best and are most popular during the cocktail hours of weddings. And what can add up to the fun is if the wedding takes place in a beach setting. Steel drum bands like RythmTrail Steel Drum Band are hugely popular during these kinds of events, and can create a memorable mood for all the guests. The best way to contact the bands like RythmTrail Steel Drum Band is by emailing them and then waiting to see whether they emails back. This will give you a hint about how responsible and active they are. There are also several websites or forums that discuss wedding and party planning on the internet that are free to join. A great idea would be to ask about good Caribbean steel drums bands to the other users who have hired one someday. If they like a particular band, chances are, you will like them too. If you are really serious about the quality, ask the band to give you the address of the destination where they are about to perform. Then visit the place for a few minutes, and get an overall ‘feel’ about the singer, the band as a whole, and see how the audiences are reacting to them. If you see a lot of enthusiasm among the crowd, you have found the correct band for your party event.

The last factor that you should consider is of course, the price. Bands like RythmTrail Steel Drum Band is quite affordable given the quality of music they play, so don’t be tempted to hire a bunch of amateurs for saving some money. A great bandwill not only create the right atmosphere for the guests in the evening, but will also give them an evening to remember throughout their lives.

Steel Drum Bands Hialeah | Caribbean Steel Drum Hialeah | Caribbean Music Hialeah | Caribbean Band Hialeah Florida

Steel Drum Band in Florida

Are you looking to hire a Steel Drum Band in Florida? Read on the article to find out more about steel drum bands in such Florida cities as Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, St Petersburg, Hialeah, Ft Lauderdale, Daytona Beach, Key West, Florida Keys, Gainesville, Ocala and others. Hiring a steel drum band is a great way to enhance your party, event or social gathering.

It is a known fact that a professional exotic band can play a huge role in the general atmosphere of the specific event. RythmTrail Steel Drum Band is one of those bands. If you are a person who loves the sounds and vibes of steel drum band music, you can’t miss RythmTrail. These steel drum players from Florida have played in various social events, paying special attention to beach weddings, parties and corporate events. Every year, the band performs at around 300 events all across America. Some of the most popular cities where RythmTrail Steel Drum Band plays are Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville, but this doesn’t exclude other parts of the USA as well. Whatever your needs are, RythmTrail Steel Drum Players can help you.

There are several music styles which RhythmTrail can offer, such as: Caribbean Steel Drum Music, soca, reggae and calypso. This means that you can hire RhythmTrail Steel Drum Band for pretty much any event and they will find the music that suits it best. This will keep your guests entertained all throughout the event. RhythmTrail Steel Drum Band offers more intimate music for beach weddings and something soothing to fit a corporate event. RhythmTrail is truly a versatile steel drum band that fits every occasion.

RhytmTrail offers a variety of music for all tastes and can perform as a one man drum band or as a quartet Florida steel drum band. You make the choice! Be sure to make your next cocktail party,
beach wedding convention or corporate event leave a lasting and positive impression on all the guests!

Hire RythmTrail Steel Drum Band now! Call us at 866-495-4522 or request a quote online at your convenience!

Here are the cities which RhytmTrail Steel Drum Players serves:
St. Pete, Clearwater, Anna Maria Island, Key West, Key Largo, Islamorada, Key Biscayne, Miami, Miami Beach, South Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Singer Island, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Jupiter, Port St Lucie, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, St Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Amelia Island, Orlando, Lakeland, Tampa, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Treasure Island Gainesville, St Simons Island, Jekyll Island, Savannah, Atlanta, Hilton Head, Selma Alabama, Sarasota, Sand Key, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Captiva Island, Naples, Marco Island, Florida Keys, Singer Island, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Jupiter, Port St Lucie, Fort Pierce, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Amelia Island, St George Island and many more.

Steel Drum Player Beach Wedding Key West Florida

Beach wedding music has always been one of the most important aspects for a well planned beach wedding ceremony. Did you know that you can impress all your friends and other people that you have invited to your wedding simply by having a steel drum as one of your instruments? Well, in this article I’m going to show you how to make your wedding an unforgettable memory for all the people you have invited by giving you some tips before hiring a steel drum player.

A little background.

Let’s talk about the history of steel drums a bit. Steel drums (or steel pans) originated from Trinidad and Tobago. Made by black slaves, this instrument was first used as a tool of communication. Tamboo-bamboo, a tunable stick made of bamboo wood was the first step in the evolution of a modern steel drum. One of the well known figures that are often related to steel pans is Rudolph Charles, a leader of the steelband movement in Trinidad and Tobago.

Why Is the ceremony music so important?

Well, the wedding ceremony music is very important because this is the single most important aspect of leaving a positive impression on your guests. Sure, your music choice might be a bit conservative but think about it: do you want people to remember your wedding as a high-class one, or do you want them to remember it as an informal, relaxing experience? Choosing the right music type will determine exactly that. You have many options here, but I want to specifically talk about one here: having a steel drum.

Why is having a steel drum band the best option for a beach wedding ceremony?

To tell you the truth, beach wedding ceremonies are considered to be pretty informal right from the start. That’s why it’s often not a good idea to play serious music. You might confuse your visitors, and you absolutely don’t want that.
So, what is the best, relaxing and fun alternative? Simply hire a steel drum band. steel drums are an excellent way to make your ceremony lively and reduce the pressure of it being too formal. You can bet people generally don’t like very formal weddings. Sure, things such as a wedding speech or a toast can sometimes be fun, but you don’t want to make a mistake by making every aspect of your wedding boring and dull just for the sake of formality. As I’ve already mentioned before, steel drum music is an excellent way to bring life to your wedding. Hiring a great steel drum player who is full of energy will boost your wedding experience to the heights, guaranteed.

Here are some tips when hiring a steel drum player or a band.

First of all, you must absolutely be assured of their reputation and professionalism. Many people have fallen prey to unprofessional bands which are after your money only. Make sure you find out as much as possible about the band you’re about to hire. Find out if they have a website
or any contact information outside of their personal numbers. You don’t want to have business with kids who assembled for some quick buck. This is probably one of the most important days of your life.

Secondly, make sure that the price is competitive. When I talk to some of my friends, you wouldn’t believe how much unnecessary funding has been flushed down the toilet because of the wedding planners being lazy. Let’s admit it, there aren’t that many steel drum bands
in Florida. But that doesn’t excuse you from researching a bit, does it. The most expensive bands are not always the best either. Consider the range $300-$3000 to be your playing field. Don’t overpay, it doesn’t guarantee for anything.

Conclusion.

I hope this article has helped you to realize the importance of having a great steel drum band as a part of your beach wedding ceremony and I also hope you’ve found out new things about steel drum as an instrument.

Solid Hoop Steel Drum Pan

If you are into Steel Drums or Steel Pans by now you may heard of the new big thing in steel drums technology called the Solid Hoop steel drums or the big pans. It’s a bigger drum than the usual 55 gallon oil drums. The new steel drums (solid hoop steel pan) are being made from an 85 gallon drum, the bigger drums give more room for the notes its now at least two inches between each not, more clarity in the notes, better note separation and better harmonics.

It seems that the biggest hurdle in steel drum construction over many years has been solved, that is note seperation and clarity. Unless you are a pan enthusiast you probably wouldn’t know whether a steel drum pan is perfectly pitched or the harmonics are sound many times a steel drum pan that sounds nice to the average ear usually have notes interfering with each other, like an A note pulling from a C# note or Bb note pulling from an F# note. The solid hoop technology solves this issue and provides more note clarity. With the new technology its now two inches between each note making it impossible for one note to seep into the other, because of the space separation its like the other have to cross a creek to interfere with the other note. Tuners now have more room to work with to achieve note solidity an A note now sounds like a crystal clear A note.

While most steel drum players and makers indorse the new technology other are not comfortable with the change. Some argue its too big, difficult to sink and some say the same sound could be derived from the smaller 55 gallon oil drums. I’m guessing there were some die hard players and makers holding out on the bore pan / holes around the notes technology as well years ago, today every player wants a bore pan.

With Every Innovation, change or something different there will be critics and hold outs. As a professional Steel Drum Player for more than twenty years nothing could be better than the solid hoop direction in steel drum. It’s better harmonics and better separation of the notes which leads to clarity of the individual note, no more A note pulling from C# note and Eb pulling from a G note. You should be able to take a steel drum pan anywhere in the world and play with any other band or instrument with note precision.

Here’s to improving the steel drum instrument and moving forward. No more running to the tuner every two months because a G Note wouldn’t hold.

Ephraim Adams
Professional Steel Drum Player
RythmTrail Steel Drum Band

Steelpans (also known as steel drums or pans, and sometimes, collectively with musicians, as a steel band) is a musical instrument originating from Trinidad and Tobago.

In the Caribbean, steel drum bands are very popular with the tourists, but you can enjoy the sweet Caribbean sounds anywhere in the United States and around the world with RythmTrail.

RythmTrail steel drum band located in Florida travels everywhere to entertain guests whether it’s for a tropical styled beach wedding corporate event, or a private party.

As the band travels, this blog will leave a trail as it chronicles the life of these pannists and the people whose hearts are warmed by the music.

What experience have you had with a steel drum band, and how has it touched your life?