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The Caribbean Sound Educational Program is intended to give students an introduction to steel drums and history of the instrument as well as the musical styles from the Caribbean. "PAN BY STORM" is an educational and amusing look at the history behind steel drums beginning with the discovery of Trinidad and Tobago by Christopher Columbus in 1498 to the present. Accompanied by our storyteller encounter the enchanting sound of African drumming and rhythms, bottle & spoon bands of the early 1900's, the Tamboo Bamboo bands (an instrument made from large pieces of bamboo), metal bands using buckets, tins, and break drums, the Pan Around The Neck steel drums from the 1950's, and finally combining all these historical elements with the modern steel drum, the instrument in use today. This exciting journey also features costumes, stage props, and a parade on stage complete with marching snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, and balloons. The production is designed for school programs K-12 in an auditorium setting but can be performed In-The-Round in a multi-purpose or other large room. Complete show length 50 minute to 1 hour.

Get up close and personal experiences of steel drums in an intimate performance setting with Caribbean Sound "In The Round." The nationally acclaimed World Music Ensemble features all the great music of their concert performances presented in a relaxed and intimate setting. This is a terrific programming option for individual school performances that can be set in a multi-purpose room allowing the audience the opportunity to more closely enjoy this stunning instrument. Feel the music, feel the rhythm with Caribbean Sound "In The Round."

An educational guide is available for teachers to download prior to our performances and can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader. This guide provides background information on the history and culture of steel drums as well as some questions and enrichment activities for students including a TLC Learning Log and a map of the Caribbean Basin. Click on "Education Guide" below to download.

Life Beat. A universal word for drumming, rhythm, and life. Individual lives, collective lives. It’s all tied together by rhythm. Rhythm is a living thing. The Caribbean Sound Residency Program is designed to explore the inner rhythm in everyone. Through history, hands on playing and creative activities children and adults will explore their personal rhythm and how to apply this rhythm to all facets of life and become more in touch with the world and themselves. The exploration can include the following;

* Children create homemade instruments out of household items such as milk jugs, paper towel rolls, and tin cans. Using traditional instruments as models, participants will create their own new unique percussion instruments. This segment also focuses on team building skills including co-creating and working together as a team while allowing self-expression of the inner person.
* Music 101. Is it pitched or non-pitched? Sessions will incorporate physics lessons to help the students understand how and why musical instruments work, and basic math lessons involving counting and how math relates to music.
* Interactive: Call and response games, rhythm games, introducing the use of body percussion, clapping, chanting, and stomping. This multicultural presentation will include African and Caribbean rhythms and their importance and influence on music of the world.
* The focus of adult settings will be more toward an historical prospective and will involve the use of drum circles.

The residency program is suitable for grades K-Middle School, elder care facilities, and community groups in a large or small setting.