Sample Mp3

This goofy title is simply the syllables I was singing while coming up with the melody. It was composed for one of my beginning student bands.

Pedagogical Points/Performance Notes-

After a short, easy Intro, the A and B sections are based on a repetitive melodic motif in the upper voices, and an easier than normal strum pattern in the 2nds and Guitars. This pattern can be a nice introduction to strumming and the importance of clear and precise strumming.

At letter C, a little music theory can be taught by explaining about relative minor as the tonality shifts from C major to A minor.

The feel at letter C changes to Zouk, a rhythm from the French Antilles. Listening to the groups Kassav, Burning Flames and Andy Narell’s group Sakesho are good resources.

The Coda section is a call & response between the upper and lower pans and gives your Guitars/Cellos/Bass sections a little feature. Make sure the rolls in the upper voices don’t cover up the lower pan's soli.

Letter E is a mash-up of the two main melodies, one in C major (2nds) and one in A minor (Leads). Both of the melodies should have equal dynamic value.

Split your Dbl 2nd section so half are playing the upper octave and half the lower. If your pans don’t go down to low E, just play that note up an octave.

Roll notation- two slashes= roll with both hands. One slash= one-handed roll. I have been experimenting with this unorthodox notation and it seems to be working with my students.

The one-handed roll is an advanced technique to lengthen notes when there’s no time to get both hands in the same pan (Dbl TN, 2nds, Guitars/Cellos). If your students struggle with this, just take out the rolls. The resonance of the pans will give the notes some length.

Drum Chart- This part is really just for navigational purposes. Letters A and B are Calypso, letter C is Zouk.

Keys of C major and A minor

I hope your band enjoys learning this song! -Mat

Difficulty: Easy (great for beginning junior high, high school, and college steel bands)

Instrumentation: tenor/double tenor(can be played on 2nds)/double seconds/guitar-cello/bass/drum set/engine room

ITEM ID : SDMB-013