The steeldrum or steelpan is an acoustic instrument that was created over the early twentieth century. It is a musical wonder that goes along with an original and social approach to music. This is a gift from Trinidadians to the world and has long been adopted in the USA and in Northern Europe (the first picture below dates from its first trip to London (1951), the video thereafter documents its debut on the American television (1966)).
If you have a few more minutes, you can get a better idea of what steeldrum means in some part of the world by watching below a 100+ orchestra playing a full length arrangement for Trinidad’s national competition finals (2005).
For a Caribbean instrument that made its way to Scandinavia and Canada, the sea and the sun of Greece would feel more like home. Moreover, the Trinidadian approach to music is community-based and any steelband can be thought as doing social work through education and empowerment. This approach may help dealing with Greece’s recent difficulties. If you want to know more about this instrument and its culture, if you may help us promoting it in Greece or if you already feel like joining us to have fun and learn to play, please contact us !