The #10 Tin Can Band consists of a unique group of individuals. The
group is consisted of many different nationalities and of many different
grade levels. The #10 Tin Can Band has been in existance for almost 6 years.
A small portion of the people that originally started with the group are
still continuing with the group as you read this. Many of the others have
either already graduated or are getting ready to graduate this coming summer
of 1998. The director of the #10 Tin Can Band is Mr. David Beery. Mr. Beery(or
commonly known as "Dave") has been with the steel drum group
from the begining. Over the years the group of members known as the #10
Tin Can Band and the director have earned a certain recognition of being
outgoingly strange (of course in a good sense!) and uncommonly normal to
the point of strangeness. They have been known for dancing, laughing, and
jumping around through the isles of their performances regardless of the
formality of the performance or not (not to mention seemingly having fun
while smiling). In conclusion, we are a crazy bunch of weirdos who love
to make music and basically have a great time at all of our performances.
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Shortly after the end of WWII the steel pan was created. The instument was the biproduct of americas trash. During WWII the U.S. navy used the Island of Trinidad a stocking depot and storing station. Leaving behind their waste inclueding that of the oil drum. The natives of the Island shought after a new form of expression. So the people decided to use the steel barrels. Through hours of hard work the pan was born. The invetor of the modern steel drum is a man by the name Ellie Mannette. When the steel drum was first made it was said to be a instrument for the rebels. At the time the only instruments used were bambo sticks. These groups of people with bambo stick formed what were known as the Tambo-Bambo bands. After years of hard work and fighting against the church the insrument finally earned liberty in the musical world (along with the rest of the world).
Over the years the instrument has created it's own type of music. Mixing traditional Caylpso with the sounds of soca a whole new form of music was born. Every year in Trinidad there is a national music festival, refered to as Carnival. During this time the Steel Bands of the nation duel for the title of best steel band in the world. The original music of Carnival was not calypso, but merely differant arrangements of songs that had been performed by recording artists. One year a man named Ray Homan broke the rules. After advancing on from round one at Panorama (the national steel band competition). He decided it was time for a change. He went to the board of judges a requested that he be able to write his own tune for the second round of competition. Thinking he was kidding around the judges said it was fine. They thought that he would end up getting his bottom kicked (to be P.C.). He wrote a original composition call "Pan on the Move". He ended up taking first place overall at Panarma. So the music of the pan was born.
The birth of the instrument has inspired many great things in the world
of music. Inclueding being on major record labels. The most notable would
be in the 1970's. The steel drum was featured in the cantina scene of "Star
Wars" Although you can't actually see the drum it was recorded on
the soundtrack. The steel pan was also featured in the song "Jane
Says" by Jane's Addiction. The pan is also the key instrument to all
of Andy Narell's recordings.
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The Soprano Family
The Tenor drum is the sole member of the soprano family, This drum is used to carry the melody, and sometimes harmonies. The drum was orginally laid out in the "Spider Web" design. It is now laid out in what is called the "Circle of Fifths" design.
The Alto Family
This family contains the Double Tenor, and Double Second. These drums carry the the harmony and on a rare ocassions the melody.
The Tenor Family
This family is composed the Quadraphonic or more commonly known as the Quads, and the Cellos. These drum carry low melodic line, along with harmony.
The Baritone Family
The Bass is the sole member of this section. There are three types of bass as of curent. The six base, the nine bass, and the duo-decapo contra bass containing twelve drums. These drums carry the bass line along with playing the root of chords
The Engine Room
This is the percussion section of our group. Containing things like
your standard drumset, congas, cowbells, wood blocks, and even a brake
drum off of some stranger's car. This section gets the name "Engine
Room" becuase it is the engine of the steel band.
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This year the #10 Tin Can Band will be competing for the first time
ever. Not only are they competing, but competing at Drumline Competitions.
We will be in the catagory of Concert percussion. This is usually a catgory
of "marimba ensembles", so on and so forth. But we are ready
to kick some major behind. Also competing at the comp. will be the North
Torrance High School Drum Line. For more info see "Upcoming
Performances".
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