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Teaching Methods for the
Steelpan
Martin Buschmann,
Pan-Kultur e.V., Germany
Workshop Presentation (2)
In 1995, the professional musicians Jürgen Lesker,
Martin Buschmann and tuner Eckhard Schulz founded the Steeldrum
Associastion, Pan-Kultur e.V. in Dortmund, Germany. Prior to this,
Eckhard Schulz had been
engaged with steeldrum production since 1979 and he provided the
instruments for a small orchestra consisting of six-bass, four-bass,
triple-cello, double-guitar, double-tenor and tenor. Jürgen Lesker
and Martin Buschmann developed teaching methods with simple rythmic
lessons; “Clap your hands and stump your feet”, handling sticks,
practising scales and playing easy pieces such “Waiting in Vain” by
Bob Marley.
This concep offered possibilities both for those who
had never played an instrument and for those who were frustrated by
conventional teaching methods. Using this method, a group of 15-20
people is able to play music together in an amazingly short time.
Because we had never expected such great success of
our teaching concept, we were very surprised. We began holding
workshops and founded the first steelpan-orchestra and a
traditonal, “Pan-around-the-neck band” (in Europe called
Marchingband) with participiants of the workshop who were fond of
the idea of playing steeldrums together. At the same time, the steel
orchestra “Paninos” was created for children between the ages of 7
-10 who we taught in a primary school project.
These three groups began preparing for their first
concerts after playing together for just a half year. This attracted
new people to join Pan-Kultur e.V. and in 1999, Pan-Kultur e.V. and
E.C.S Steeldrums“ (Eckhard Schulz, tuner) moved together into a
single panyard. Our methods astonished the music teacher Werner
Weidensdorfer who had been teaching children by the traditional
musical methods.
Eckhard Schulz began producing the “ECS Kiddrum”
with eight tones for music lessons for children from 3 years
onwards. Based upon the, “Kiddrum” instrument, they subsequently
developped the “Teacher Steelpan” with 13 tones with a
reciprocal-diatonec tone-order and a range from C1 to f2 as well as
F#1 and Bb1.
This rediprocal ascending format promotes the use of
both hands right from inception. Additionally, there are two
musical advantages: the principle of traditional Music Notation and
the Basic Harmonic Functions become amazingly obvious and clear.
The “Teacher Steelpan” is an excellent beginners
instrument which offers an easy way to play music and which is a new
alternative to the old-fashioned instruments like Orff Instruments.
Furthermore, this pan can also be played in quartett form including
soprano, alto, tenor and bass. It is suitable for beginners, for
ensemble playing and as preparation for learning other instruments
and singing.
We envisage that the
“Teacher Steelpan Concept” will overtake the current primary
musical educational approach and, that because of the growing
awareness of the steelpan culture, it will lead to a more integrated
and enhanced musical culture of Germany that, in the forseeable
future, will extend well beyond these borders.
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