Some of the students at Ring Factory Elementary were excited when they heard a steel drum band was being started at the school.
Olivia Vach played drums at home but wanted to try something new. Daniel Cullinan wanted to be challenged. And Christopher "CJ" Plumer wanted to learn an instrument that not everybody plays.
"Steel drums are unique," said CJ, 10, a fifth-grader from Bel Air. "I think having a steel drum band in our school gives kids a chance to see what it's like to do something challenging when they get older. The steel drum band gives little kids something to look forward to."
The three youngsters, along with 26 other fourth- and fifth-graders, auditioned and were selected to play in the band this year.
The band was started in 2006 by Sara Egner, who started teaching music at Ring Factory six years ago.
Developed in Trinidad in the 1930s, steel drums, also called steel pans, are percussion instruments made from oil drums. There are six types of steel drums: lead drums for playing melody, double seconds for playing harmony, double guitars and triple cellos to play rhythm chords, tenor bass to play bass and rhythm, and six bass to play the bass line.
Egner was introduced to steel drums when she heard them three years ago in a Baltimore County public school, she said.
She was hooked.
"I fell in love with steel drums," said Egner, who attended the Peabody Conservatory.
"Steel drums can be played by children who are hearing-impaired, have ADHD, or just have a great knack for learning," she said. "Children who play the drums need to be energetic and have a good memory. Playing the steel drums keeps children moving and energized."
New to the steel drum band this year, fourth-grader Olivia agreed with Egner.
"People think playing steel drums is really easy," said Olivia, 9, of Bel Air. "It's not. You have to move your hands really fast to hit a note. Playing the steel drums makes you tired."
But the hard work is worth it, she said.
"We get to travel and play, and we make people happy with music," she said.
David Cullinan said he joined the band because he likes the challenge.
"There are a whole lot of notes in some songs," said David, 10, a fifth-grader from Bel Air who has played in the band for two years. "Last year, we played 'God Only Knows,' and it was really hard. The notes are all scrunched in. It makes it really hard to get the timing just right. But I play awesome."
