Making music from metal

Photo: Colin Chase

Steel pans lined up and ready to be played.

OXFORD HILLS — Remember as a kid you loved being a drummer and banging on pots and pans? Well, these kids never stopped.

At Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, there are so many opportunities to grab a hold of, including the Steel Band class taught by Mr. Kyle Jordan. Jordan was the one who also found the drums in a storage space from his own town’s school in Otisfield.

“Otisfield Elementary School bought these drums four to five years ago while we have them for a permanent loan," said Jordan. "This year is the first time this class has been at OHCHS and they have already achieved so much."

The first time they performed was an experiment at the fall concert and everyone had a great time. Most of the drummers were worried if the crowd was going to enjoy the sound.

“I was worried at first, however, right when we started playing and I looked up, there was a huge smile right on everyone's face and everyone was having a great time,” said one of the student drummers.

Only 12 people could fit in the class, which makes it easier for one-on-one learning.  

These steel drums, also known as steel pans, are played a little differently than regular snare drums.

“The steel drums are made in a method called the circle of fifths,” Jordan noted.

“I have learned to read and play left to right like a book or piano. The steel pans do not play like that. If you play a spot on the drum you would think that the note on the right is the next note higher when its actually somewhere else on the pan.”

Jordan has also said he feels that the students have learned the steel drums faster than he has because of that same reason.

These students have a great time playing and learning new songs.

They can be seen making dented metal pans into wonderful music at the next concert on March 20 with the high school orchestra.