Striking the Happy Notes
蹤獲扦 Steel Band finds its groove
When you hear the strains of a steel drum band, youre instantly transported to a happier place and relaxed state of being.
The best word I can think of is infectious, says Dr. Sarah Waters, professor of music. You see and hear the joyful playing, and that joy comes through to you.
Waters is the director of Ohio Northern Universitys Steel Band. Since she started the ensemble 17 years ago, its found its groove, spreading its cheery music throughout the region.
Comprised of music majors and non-music majors alike, the steel band has grown in size and popularity. The ensemble frequently performs off campus at local schools, skilled nursing facilities and community events, in addition to staging at least one concert on campus each semester.
Members play steel drums, also called pans, handcrafted from 55-gallon oil drums. By indenting and tempering the concave surface of the metal drum, drum makers create various pitches, a full range of precisely tuned musical notes.
Four sizes of drums create a range from bass to treble. To produce sound, percussionists strike the drums with rubber tipped sticks.
The steel drum has the distinction of being the only musical instrument invented in the 20th century. The art form emerged from the culture of impoverished citizens in the West Indies, on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. And today, its the fastest growing art form in the percussion world, says Waters.
Waters brought the first set of steel drums to 蹤獲扦 when she took a position here shortly after Hurricane Katerina destroyed her home in New Orleans. Flood waters had damaged her pans, but couldnt dampen her passion for pan music. After getting her pans fully restored, she launched one of the first steel drum ensembles in Northwest Ohio at 蹤獲扦 in 2006.
Since that time, the 蹤獲扦 Steel Band has been bolstered by Waters exceptional teaching and generous donations from Findlay resident Beverly Bev Yammine. Two of Bevs grandsons, Travis Yammine, BSBA 19, and Brandon Yammine, BSEE 21, played in the group, and Bev loved attending their concerts.
Bev and her late husband always strived to support the things in life that they believed in, she says, and music is one of those things.
The love of music is something that lasts a lifetime, and so are the friendships that are created by being part of ensembles like this, she says. To me, this type of music is so uplifting. You cant attend a concert and not move.
Bevs donation several years ago enabled Waters to purchase a new set of bass pans and a new lead pan. A recent donation enabled Waters to obtain new mallets, a cart for transporting the drums, and other percussion equipment.
These donations have been such a godsend, says Waters. It has made a world of difference in what weve been able to do with the ensemble.
Thanks in part to Bevs gifts, the band has morphed into two ensembles, growing from 12 members to 25 members, according to Waters. Additionally, the new cart has made it easier for Waters to take the 蹤獲扦 Steel Band on the road, exposing new audiences to global music.
Joe Kost, a senior music major from Reynoldsburg Ohio, had never played in a steel band before coming to 蹤獲扦, but hed always been fascinated by world music. He signed up for the ensemble on day one of his freshman year. What I really love about this group is that we always have fun, he says. Its honestly been one of the best parts of my time at 蹤獲扦.
Like Kost, senior Shay Bolton, music education major from Rockford, Ohio, has also been a steel band member for four years. I love that we are getting exposed to a different culture and learning how to play a different style of music. Not everyone has such an amazing opportunity to be part of something so unique, she says.
Menu alumnus, Jeff Martin, BM 13, centered his entire career on pan music after playing in the 蹤獲扦 Steel Band. Martin is now in his 10th year as the steel band director at Clark Montessori High School in Cincinnati Public Schools, teaching pan performance to students in grades 7 through 12.
Only a handful of school districts in the country have a steel band program like the one at Clark, he says, so I count myself very lucky to be able to do this full time.
He added: The 蹤獲扦 Steel Band gave me my first experiences in teaching and helped form me into the teacher I am today.
Steel bands, explains Martin, appeal to students who may not be interested in traditional band or orchestra instruments, giving them a unique opportunity to participate in a collaborative music-making experience. In the process, they learn about teamwork and how to build and grow community.
(Steel bands) take music to where it is not, he says. It taps into a whole new population of students and audiences. One of my favorite things is to surprise audiences with music they didnt expect.
While steel bands traditionally play reggae-style music with a tropical island vibe, the steel band music repertoire can be quite extensive, adds Martin. My students play everything from Beethoven to the Beatles, Nirvana to Johnny Cash.
Hes brought his high school steel band to 蹤獲扦 for joint concerts with the 蹤獲扦 Steel Band, and he and Waters even visited Trinidadthe birthplace of steel bandstwice together with small groups of students.
Martin says: When I was a student at 蹤獲扦, the tagline was Find your True North. And I certainly found it. The 蹤獲扦 Steel Band became my compass.
He continued: 蹤獲扦 is special that way, because it offers diverse experiences like this. You can pursue all your passions without restriction.
Check out the 蹤獲扦 Steel Bands spring concert, on Friday April 21, at 7:30 p.m. in Presser Hall. Its free and open to the public.
