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Yamaha Blog Articles
Yamaha Corporation of America - Consumer Audio Blogs
Gaming in Dolby Atmos: An Interview with Josh Osiris
Five Reasons Vinyl is Making a Comeback
Jeff Coffin Video Series, Part 1: Shopping for Vinyl
Jeff Coffin Video Series, Part 2: Caring for Vinyl
How We Interpret Sound: An Interview with Dr. Floyd Toole
Gaming in Dolby Atmos: An Interview with Josh Osiris
Five Reasons Vinyl is Making a Comeback
Jeff Coffin Video Series, Part 1: Shopping for Vinyl
Jeff Coffin Video Series, Part 2: Caring for Vinyl
How We Interpret Sound: An Interview with Dr. Floyd Toole
PAN Magazine Articles
Why You Need to Watch Mister Rogers Talk About Steelpan
Written by Ted Goslin
In difficult times, it’s common practice for filmmakers to reflect the difficulties of the times with documentaries of historical events to teach the current generation about how bad it can get. But there are also films that emerge depicting great lessons on the positive end of the spectrum. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” is one of those films.
Released on June 8, 2018, the documentary film gives a detailed profile of Fred Rogers, star of popular PBS television show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Footage includes interviews with those who knew him best, along with Rogers himself shown during episodes, in outtakes and past television interviews filmed during his life.
Many of the biggest questions about Rogers were answered during the film, including whether he actually had tattoos all over his arms (he didn’t), whether he was actually mean when the camera wasn’t rolling (absolutely not) and even whether his show actually did harm to an entire generation by telling them all they were special, which his critics vehemently said gave his viewers an attitude of entitlement (the film’s message speaks to the contrary).
But perhaps his greatest gift was using television for the good of educating children about the complexities of life.
“Mad Feelings”
One such message was depicted in an episode of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood where he discovered a local steelpan builder in Pittsburgh was making the instruments by pounding on steel with a hammer. He found the technique matched the theme of an upcoming series of episodes he was planning called, “Mad Feelings” (episode #1694).
In the episode, Mr. McFeely, the friendly mailman who regularly visited Rogers on the show, brought a steelpan with him to show Rogers. He described what it was and where it came from, instantly captivating Rogers. McFeely even played it a bit to showcase the sound. Rogers complemented it and spoke honestly, saying it had a beautiful sound and making sure to call it by it’s given name, the steelpan, rather than what many in the U.S. have been calling it, the steel drum.
Steelpan builder Phil Solomon as seen in episode 1694 of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.The episode then went on to show local Pittsburgh, Pa. pan builder Phil Solomon at work making pans in his workshop, explaining the process for the viewers.
Venting Through Music
The point of the episode was to explain to kids how to get rid of anger in a healthy way. Other episodes in the series featured similar ideas, including one on the performance group, Stomp, which used everyday items like brooms and buckets as percussion instruments. Given the timing of the documentary and how steelpan was used in an episode, it’s important to remember how to deal with anger in a healthy way, which includes channeling it to make and play musical instruments like the steelpan.
The other thing the episode accomplished was showcasing pan in the correct light, explaining where it came from, its history, how it’s made, what it sounds like in a full band setting and it’s proper name.
When information is given this clearly and honestly, it makes one long for the days when Rogers was a mainstay on television. This is especially true today with the divisions being seen in the media and across the country due to the complex political climate currently on-hand. Hopefully, reminders like this will continue when we most need them and have an impact for the better in the days, months and years ahead.
Episodes of Mr. Rogers, including “Mad Feelings,” can be seen on Amazon Prime.
In difficult times, it’s common practice for filmmakers to reflect the difficulties of the times with documentaries of historical events to teach the current generation about how bad it can get. But there are also films that emerge depicting great lessons on the positive end of the spectrum. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” is one of those films.
Released on June 8, 2018, the documentary film gives a detailed profile of Fred Rogers, star of popular PBS television show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Footage includes interviews with those who knew him best, along with Rogers himself shown during episodes, in outtakes and past television interviews filmed during his life.
Many of the biggest questions about Rogers were answered during the film, including whether he actually had tattoos all over his arms (he didn’t), whether he was actually mean when the camera wasn’t rolling (absolutely not) and even whether his show actually did harm to an entire generation by telling them all they were special, which his critics vehemently said gave his viewers an attitude of entitlement (the film’s message speaks to the contrary).
But perhaps his greatest gift was using television for the good of educating children about the complexities of life.
“Mad Feelings”
One such message was depicted in an episode of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood where he discovered a local steelpan builder in Pittsburgh was making the instruments by pounding on steel with a hammer. He found the technique matched the theme of an upcoming series of episodes he was planning called, “Mad Feelings” (episode #1694).
In the episode, Mr. McFeely, the friendly mailman who regularly visited Rogers on the show, brought a steelpan with him to show Rogers. He described what it was and where it came from, instantly captivating Rogers. McFeely even played it a bit to showcase the sound. Rogers complemented it and spoke honestly, saying it had a beautiful sound and making sure to call it by it’s given name, the steelpan, rather than what many in the U.S. have been calling it, the steel drum.
Steelpan builder Phil Solomon as seen in episode 1694 of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.The episode then went on to show local Pittsburgh, Pa. pan builder Phil Solomon at work making pans in his workshop, explaining the process for the viewers.
Venting Through Music
The point of the episode was to explain to kids how to get rid of anger in a healthy way. Other episodes in the series featured similar ideas, including one on the performance group, Stomp, which used everyday items like brooms and buckets as percussion instruments. Given the timing of the documentary and how steelpan was used in an episode, it’s important to remember how to deal with anger in a healthy way, which includes channeling it to make and play musical instruments like the steelpan.
The other thing the episode accomplished was showcasing pan in the correct light, explaining where it came from, its history, how it’s made, what it sounds like in a full band setting and it’s proper name.
When information is given this clearly and honestly, it makes one long for the days when Rogers was a mainstay on television. This is especially true today with the divisions being seen in the media and across the country due to the complex political climate currently on-hand. Hopefully, reminders like this will continue when we most need them and have an impact for the better in the days, months and years ahead.
Episodes of Mr. Rogers, including “Mad Feelings,” can be seen on Amazon Prime.
Trip Of A Lifetime: Trinidadian Steelband Tours With Mexican Steelband
The concept of a cultural exchange program has always been to gain a mutual respect and understanding of new cultures. But for Trinidadian steelband Panexcel, visiting and performing with Xalapa Steel Band transcended even their wildest dreams of the concept.
From August 2 through 16, 2016, Panexcel, led by Ronald and Sherene Matthews, took its 12-member steelband to Xalapa, Mexico, located in the southeastern state of Veracruz. The group, formed in April of 2011, was created with the sole purpose to promote steelpan music both within Trinidad and Tobago and globally.
The trip came to be thanks to contact between the director of the Xalapa steelband and the Matthews’ own steelpan manufacturing company, RS Sweet Pans, Ltd. “The director has been a client of ours for some years. We are also the tuners for their band,” Sherene Matthews said. “We visited Mr. Lalo Tellez (director, Xalapa Steel Band) in Xalapa in 2014 after connecting with him through the Internet. Mr. Tellez is learning to make and tune steelpans with Ronald. Lalo made a set of six-bass for the band for this tour with Panexcel. He did a wonderful job. Lalo started a steelpan workshop with Ronald in Xalapa in 2014 and continued in Trinidad in 2015. It was through this relationship that the idea of a tour was born.”
Once the idea of a tour came to be, Panexce then needed to raise money for the trip. The band raised funds by staging a concert called, “A Trini Mexican Fiesta.” The remaining funds were provided by RS Sweet Pans and the band members themselves. No government aid was provided. The Xalapa steelband also assisted with some of the expenses.
The trip consisted of rehearsals, musical collaboration between the management of the two bands, four performances, including one at a senior citizens’ home, a master class on steelpan history and tuning that included demonstrations, and sightseeing tours to La Cantona and Nace El Rio.
“It was a very rich cultural exchange. The meshing of the two cultures was fabulous,” Matthews said. “We did a two-week trip to ensure that there was sufficient time to knit the two teams together, both culturally and musically.”
Aside from the cultural and musical exchange the two bands experienced, Panexcel is said to be the first outside steelband to ever perform in Xalapa, Veracruz. Matthews believes exchanges like this are just the beginning and hopes other groups can take part in the joys that these two bands experienced.
“We can safely conclude that the Xalapa Steelband enjoyed the rich cultural interaction with Panexcel. Plans are afoot for another tour in 2018. It will involve more cities such as Mexico City and Veracruz,” Matthews said. “We would certainly recommend other steel orchestras do a trip such as this. This is Panexcel’s fourth international trip. It is always a challenge if you are an unsponsored band. This trip was the most challenging because of the huge cost factor. It is important for the management of any band to prove itself to be progressive in the community and to be committed to its goals and objectives. We may not have received financial aid, but our fundraising Concert attracted much more support than in past years. We took that as an indication that we were doing something right and the general public had gained confidence in us. It takes time for a band to achieve that level of confidence from the public.”
The trip took the band about one year of planning, but thanks to the special category the band was able to use to book the flight, called “Group Travel,” the airline took a deposit on the airfare, giving the band time to pay off the remaining balance. Today’s technology always played a part in helping the band coordinate the trip, thanks to the use of social media apps like Skype, Whatsapp, Facebook and traditional email.
“All in all, the key to planning such a trip is good management. The formula for success lies in creating a value-based environment for oneness and unity of the band,” Matthews said. “When each member buys into the vision of the band, then it becomes easy for the band to go forward to achieve positive goals.”
From August 2 through 16, 2016, Panexcel, led by Ronald and Sherene Matthews, took its 12-member steelband to Xalapa, Mexico, located in the southeastern state of Veracruz. The group, formed in April of 2011, was created with the sole purpose to promote steelpan music both within Trinidad and Tobago and globally.
The trip came to be thanks to contact between the director of the Xalapa steelband and the Matthews’ own steelpan manufacturing company, RS Sweet Pans, Ltd. “The director has been a client of ours for some years. We are also the tuners for their band,” Sherene Matthews said. “We visited Mr. Lalo Tellez (director, Xalapa Steel Band) in Xalapa in 2014 after connecting with him through the Internet. Mr. Tellez is learning to make and tune steelpans with Ronald. Lalo made a set of six-bass for the band for this tour with Panexcel. He did a wonderful job. Lalo started a steelpan workshop with Ronald in Xalapa in 2014 and continued in Trinidad in 2015. It was through this relationship that the idea of a tour was born.”
Once the idea of a tour came to be, Panexce then needed to raise money for the trip. The band raised funds by staging a concert called, “A Trini Mexican Fiesta.” The remaining funds were provided by RS Sweet Pans and the band members themselves. No government aid was provided. The Xalapa steelband also assisted with some of the expenses.
The trip consisted of rehearsals, musical collaboration between the management of the two bands, four performances, including one at a senior citizens’ home, a master class on steelpan history and tuning that included demonstrations, and sightseeing tours to La Cantona and Nace El Rio.
“It was a very rich cultural exchange. The meshing of the two cultures was fabulous,” Matthews said. “We did a two-week trip to ensure that there was sufficient time to knit the two teams together, both culturally and musically.”
Aside from the cultural and musical exchange the two bands experienced, Panexcel is said to be the first outside steelband to ever perform in Xalapa, Veracruz. Matthews believes exchanges like this are just the beginning and hopes other groups can take part in the joys that these two bands experienced.
“We can safely conclude that the Xalapa Steelband enjoyed the rich cultural interaction with Panexcel. Plans are afoot for another tour in 2018. It will involve more cities such as Mexico City and Veracruz,” Matthews said. “We would certainly recommend other steel orchestras do a trip such as this. This is Panexcel’s fourth international trip. It is always a challenge if you are an unsponsored band. This trip was the most challenging because of the huge cost factor. It is important for the management of any band to prove itself to be progressive in the community and to be committed to its goals and objectives. We may not have received financial aid, but our fundraising Concert attracted much more support than in past years. We took that as an indication that we were doing something right and the general public had gained confidence in us. It takes time for a band to achieve that level of confidence from the public.”
The trip took the band about one year of planning, but thanks to the special category the band was able to use to book the flight, called “Group Travel,” the airline took a deposit on the airfare, giving the band time to pay off the remaining balance. Today’s technology always played a part in helping the band coordinate the trip, thanks to the use of social media apps like Skype, Whatsapp, Facebook and traditional email.
“All in all, the key to planning such a trip is good management. The formula for success lies in creating a value-based environment for oneness and unity of the band,” Matthews said. “When each member buys into the vision of the band, then it becomes easy for the band to go forward to achieve positive goals.”
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