Most kids would tell you that they don’t like school for whatever reason, but John Syphard’s Selbyville School of the Arts steel pan band weathers the school day like a the crew of a sturdy sea vessel waiting until they can see the clouds break. All day long, they look forward to playing their drums — and once the clock strikes two o’clock, a line of anxious percussionist descends upon on a gutted locker room to release that tension.
Coastal Point • JON STARKEY:
Aaron Pepe practices his drum skills at the Southern Delaware School of the Arts on Wednesday, Feb. 1
The paint on the wall has chipped away through the years and the room is stacked with lockers, out-dated computers, extra math books and has a small pool of water collecting in the corner. The room has, no doubt, seen better days, but all thought of the room’s appearance dissipates once the band begins to play. Their classical calypso sound rivals that of any score led by any red crab in “The Little Mermaid.”
The room bursts with color and vivacity that makes the floor thump and walls sing. Nearly two dozen middle-school kids, each equipped with a pair of sticks and an assortment of drums, pound in unison and intent the sounds of Trinidad.
The steel pan drum is the national instrument of Trinidad and seven lucky band members will make the trip Feb. 19-28 to experience the real thing in person.
Ten of Syphard’s students made the trip last year but arrived after the Steel Pan finals that are the main celebration of Carnival in Trinidad. Every year, more bands than can be counted converge on Trinidad to display their prowess on the drums — something that Syphard’s group will be sure not to miss this year.
“Down there, steel drum playing is taken very seriously,” explained Syphard. “They play 10- to 11-minute songs with upwards of 150 players (a full orchestra) where as we only play for three to four minutes. This trip will give the kids the opportunity to see all the hard work that goes into being in a steel pan band. Not only will they get to learn new songs but they get to see how the band sets up and breaks down. It doesn’t get any better that that — they get to hear how a band is supposed to play.”
Tragically, the school band’s arranger, Joe Isidore, passed away this past year, which has halted them learning any new songs for the time being. Isidore not only taught the kids songs but tuned the instruments, and the band’s heavy hearts are surely lifted when playing songs he taught them.
Isidore, like many Trinidadians, saw steel pan as a way out of poverty and toward prosperity, which is something Syphard has tried to instill in his students.
“I’ve tried to encourage them to stick with this because they can make money doing something that they like doing,” said Syphard.
They’ve played more than 180 shows in the past two years and, though many of them originally played different instruments or in other bands, playing steel pan instilled new confidence.
Bass drummer Jung Son originally played classical piano before Syphard recruited him at a teacher’s conference. Son and Syphard’s band were both slated to play the conference, but it wasn’t till after joining the steel drum band did Son truly feel confident in his musical abilities.
“Usually, I was afraid when I was in the stands — until I started playing steel pan,” said Son.
Syphard explained that learning to play steel pan is relatively easy and boasted that “a new kid can come in on Monday and play in the band on Saturday,” because they don’t have to learn to read music. Steel pan is played by ear and his students sure have picked that up in a hurry — though there is more to the art, according to Syphard.
“What we’d like to start doing is move a little more,” said Syphard.
Almost all of the band members stand firmly, with an occasional knee bending to the beat of the music — all except bass drummer Marissa Carmello.
Carmello sways to a fro with the beat and embodies the confidence that Syphard says he would like his band to have. Having the opportunity to play steel pan in the motherland of the art will definitely be a validating experience.
“We’re good, but we want them to know how good we really are,” said Carmello.
In addition to learning the art of steel pan in its native environment, the kids will have an opportunity to eat new foods and travel to lands never before seen by any of their young eyes. Two of the seven had traveled abroad but none have ever been to Trinidad.
The trip costs about $1,500 per person, which has been taken care of by the “self-sufficient” band, but they will host the “5K Steel Drum Stroll to Carnival” on Feb. 11 to raise additional funds to tie up all the loose financial ends. The race will start at Magnolia’s Restaurant on Cedar Neck Road and proceed down through to James Farm. Registration will be held from 10:45 to 11:45, with a $20 fee. Pre-registration costs $15.
The band also will play at St. Mark’s Church in Millsboro on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, from 4 to 5 p.m.