newsletter3

Members of the River Rat Rhythm Project Steel Drum Band recently completed trip to Akron and Cleveland Ohio. The purpose of the trip was to get some maintenance work done on their instruments, but along the way they played some of the finest steel drum instruments available, toured the Great Lakes Science Center, and visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The drums were delivered to the offices of Panyard, Inc., in Akron, Ohio on a frigid Saturday morning. Panyard, named after the rehearsal spaces of steel drum bands in Trinidad, is widely known among the Caribbean music community for developing new methods of manufacture to push the envelope of steel drum instrument construction. Tracy Robertson Sr. and River Rat big cheese Dan Hammond were met by master tuner Steve Lawrie, who assessed the drums and assured the pair he could have them ready by the next day.

By this time, the rest of the Rats were ready to take on the nearby city of Cleveland, and they proceeded to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where they saw instruments played by rock and roll greats from Jerry Garcia to Jimi Hendrix. Stage props, costumes, vehicles, personal articles of every shape and size, interactive exhibits, and video presentations helped to bring the history of American music to life.

Next up was a venture to the nearby Great Lakes Science Center. The hands-on nature of the exhibits in the science center gave the younger rats a welcome chance to explore. They landed the space shuttle, flew a hang glider, explored the science of sound and motion, studied bridge construction and magnetism, and lifted a car.

It had been a full day, but the gang was still game for a late night return visit to Panyard to check on the instruments. Co-owner Ron Kerns was there to great them, and he invited them to play on the same instruments the Panyard steel band uses. The young musicians were struck by the beauty of the instruments and spent well over an hour mesmerized by the sound of a simple progression. Eventually, the call of Donato’s Pizza had to be answered, and the tired crew returned to their hotel for the evening, commenting on the beauty of the instruments and saying they did not want to stop playing.

The morning brought with it a return trip to Panyard to pick up the instruments. Staff treated the wandering Rats to donuts and a tour of the factory, including an overview of the manufacturing process, a chance to try the hammering process that is the fundamental skill involved in tuning an instrument, and a concert with traditional tamboo-bamboo instruments. The tour wrapped up with a chance to observe a recording project in production, and a repeat performance on Panyard instruments.

Director Dan Hammond said the trip was intended to be fun, but he hoped the students learned from it. “Not long after we started talking to Panyard about tuning the instruments, we knew we wanted our players to hear the instruments they make, and learn about how they’re made,” he says, “and their location near Cleveland made it possible for us to cover a lot of ground. It made for a very complete experience and a highly successful trip.”

The River Rats are planning return trip to Ohio at the end of April, for the International Association of Pan Enthusiasts’ second annual convention. Hammond describes this as an “historic event”, saying that it will be the first time all the major instrument makers will be gathered together under one roof. “The history of the instrument is short, so these are the guys that truly invented the instrument as we know it today,” he says. The event will also include instruction for attending players, and a “mass band” performance with groups from around the world.

The River Rat Rhythm Project Steel Drum Band is always open to new members, and is open to anyone regardless of age. An introductory workshop will be held from 4:30-6:00 on Monday, March 27 at the Best Western on Washington Street in Watertown. Space is limited, so reservations are strongly recommended. For more information about the group or the workshop, visit the website at www.rrrp.net, or contact Tammy Tammy@rrrp.net, or call 783-2786.

Back to Newsletters

Back to Homepage