The Magic and Craftsmanship Behind Every Pan

Do you know how this cultural instrument phenomenon is made? A part of CARIFESTA XV was an open invitation for people to learn about the making of the steel pan at Pan Yard-Steel Pan Making, Tuning and Care workshop, held at the Christ Church Foundation School. This was one of the many cultural events showcased during the 10-day festival.

The session was led by Veron Henry of Antigua and Kyle Noel from Trinidad and Tobago. The audience was mainly young people and the curious about the process of creating a steel pan, though some were also excited to see the tuning process. A few tourists stopped by to learn more about Trinidad and Tobago’s national instrument, whose unique sound is cherished and enjoyed not only across the Caribbean but also around the world

Participants were split into two groups: one tasked with working on the bass pan and the other on the triple pan. The essential tools needed to construct these two variants were oil cans, a variety of hammers, a metal ruler, marker, gloves and most importantly headphones or earplugs. However, they would all learn that the most important tools in the process were patience and endurance. As Henry stated, “The time needed to complete one [pan] may depend on the type of steel pan, but with continuous work it can be done within a day.”

Precision was emphasized as a vital since each steel pan requires accurate measurements at each stage of its creation, especially for sinking, grooving and tuning. Moreover, once the measurements were finalized, the outline of each note was marked. This is where we learned that the notes vary in shape and size to produce different pitches.  

Then came the most anticipated part: the banging also known as sinking. Each participant worked on a drum, hammering away at the surface of the oil can for about an hour until they reached the needed depth. This process continued until the surface started to form a concave shape.

After strenuous and exhausting pounding, the session came to an end. However, as noisy as it was, the session was more than hammering, it was the sound of Caribbean innovation, tradition and excellence.

Written by:

Sarah Arielle Gooding-Edghill

Youth Correspondent - CARIFESTA XV