Summary of the Occupation
“For over 50 years the world has enjoyed the scintillating, pulsating music of the steel-band. Audiences from London to New York and beyond have been left spellbound, amazed that such rich tonal quality could come from discarded oil drums. The refined sound we now hear is the result of decades of hard work, research
and innovations by master tuners … As the world gets ready to enter the new millennium, … (men) … with their genius and creativity gave this century perhaps its sweetest gift … No one knows what the final product will be, but we know for sure that it will continue to make a joyful noise unto the world of music.”
Pantrinbago Inc., www.pantrinbago.co.tt.
Steel pan construction is the art and science of creating steel pans. There are several types of steel pan instruments, for example, the tenor pan, double tenor pan, guitar pan, cello pans and base pans. These steel pans are being exported almost every day out of Trinidad to the United States of America and to places in Africa. Therefore, if a Pan Builder can make a clean pan, he/she can make a living through sustainable employment.
Preliminary work was done at the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards to create a standard for the production of pans, although much of the time, the final product depends on the needs of the customer. Thus, it is important that pan makers focus on the ability to learn the skills of building the pan. The procedures are the same worldwide. The notes are the same but the placement may be different according to the customer’s specifications.
The technology that is available in the steel pan construction industry is progressing. The manual work involved in building a steel pan now utilizes machinery which makes the job less strenuous. However, while machines that are dedicated to constructing steel pans have not been invented, in different countries the technology is evolving. To remain leaders in the steel pan construction industry, steel pan builders in Trinidad and Tobago, can seek to focus on the development of advanced technology for the process of making steel pans.
In this occupational area we will examine two major job titles:
- Steel pan builder
- Steel pan (master) tuner
STEEL PAN BUILDER
The Pan Builder completes the first stage in the construction of a percussive instrument. The Builder processes the raw material, the steel drum, into a steel pan which fits the desired customer specifications. The Builder converts the raw steel drum into a formed pan which becomes the input for the steel pan tuner.
Traditionally, the steel pan tuner would build and tune his own pan, but, with increased demand the job of building a steel pan has been divided into different activities, and with many of our tuners aging, the Steel Pan Builder is serving an important role as, without the work of the Builder, the tuner will not be able to function.
In fact, it is with the Pan Builder that the tuning starts as it is the foundation. If the build is a solid one, the output is a quality pan. If the work of the Builder is poorly executed, then the result is a product of lesser quality.
Previously, the aesthetic quality of the steel pan was not seen as important. The industry has progressed to the point where, the Pan Builder understands that the pan is seen before it is heard, therefore, the look of the pan is important, thus the Builder’s work becomes even more important.
The Steel Pan Builder is responsible for:
- Selecting quality steel drums
- Preparing the drum for processing
- Processing of the drum to the desired specifications
The duties of the Steel Pan Builder are to:
- Assess drums for soundness and appropriateness
- Clean the drum in preparation for processing
- Draft lines on the drum for sinking
- Sink and countersink the drum using machine hammers
- Draft notes on the drum and groove and set the drum
- Cut the skirt of the drum to desired length.
The job of the Steel Pan Builder can be complex. The grooving of the pan is a delicate and intricate task, it is said that not anyone can groove a pan. It takes a steady hand. Countersinking the pan is also complex as one needs to know where to hit the metal when the bowl is formed, to know where to raise and where to sink the material.
One of the major difficulties in this job is the acquisition of proper raw materials from suppliers and hammers. Often the Builder will need to make his own hammers. In addition, there is always something to learn, each pan is unique and each tuner has different specifications, therefore, the Builder needs to have different templates to draft the notes on the pan.
It is important that the duties of the Steel Pan Builder are executed according to performance standards. If this is not the case, the steel pan will not conform to production standards and will be discarded. This wastes material and represents a cost to the company. It important as well that the Pan Builder identifies inconsistencies in the product as early as possible in order to take corrective action and utilize resources efficiently.
These duties are performed on a daily basis or according to the work schedule to meet production quotas. It is possible, depending on the type of steel pan, to produce in general one pan per day.
The steel pan construction industry is made up of many small independent producers of steel pans throughout the twin islands. A few of these independent firms produce steel pans for export. Thus the Steel Pan Builder can operate as an entrepreneur or as an employee in a steel pan construction establishment.
Reporting relationships for the Steel Pan Builder:
Usually if the Steel Pan Builder is employed in an organization, he will report to the Steel Pan Tuner, or the person who has responsibility for production operations on his/her performance. This also depends on the skill level of the builder. Nevertheless, whether the Pan Builder is an employee of a pan factory or a small business owner, the Builder works to the specifications of the tuner.
Once an experienced builder is working on a traditional instrument layout, then he may work on his own. Where the Steel Pan Builder is inexperienced, or, if the circumstances are other than normal, he may need to be supervised. If the person owns his own business they see themselves as reporting to their customer regarding the customers’ requirements.
The Steel Pan Builder will supervise the work of others where the Builder is experienced and/or operates his/her own establishment. The Steel Pan Builder may also interact with other employees in the work environment. Interactions may involve problem solving or assistance with manual tasks. Also, depending on whether he/she operates as a business owner or an employee, he may interact with suppliers and customers to acquire material and identify and verify building requirements.
Work Schedule of the Steel Pan Builder:
The Steel Pan Builder may work a five day, eight hour work week in a permanent position on a full-time basis, if working with an established company, as well, if the Builder is a sole proprietor, the work schedule can be dependent upon demand for the product. The working hours for the Steel Pan Builder can be long depending on the work schedule, in particular, with the run up to the carnival season, the work load becomes hectic.
Physical environment:
The Steel Pan Builder is exposed to machinery with moving parts and is required to wear protective gear to ensure personal safety in the performance of his/her duties. The protective gear includes ear plugs as the noise level in the work environment is high.
When preparing the steel drum for processing, the Pan Builder may sand blast the drum. In this circumstance the work environment can be dusty, also, cleaning the drum may also entail the use of paint thinners.
The Steel Pan Builder may also be exposed to heat in the burning of the drum (for pre-tuning). In addition, if he has that skill, the Pan Builder may be required to weld a burst pan.
The Steel Pan Builder is sometimes required to keep records of the work that has been completed.
Tools and equipment used:
- Pneumatic hammers
- Pneumatic shears
- Drills
- Standard and special purpose hammers
- Hand punch
- Rulers
- Drafting templates
- Mathematical compass
No special technical or educational qualification is needed for an individual to start building steel pans but the following traits are assets:
- Teamwork
- Love for the job
- Musical ear
- Physical endurance and strength
- Willingness to learn
- Mathematical skills
- Musical background
- Technical drawing
- Sensitivity of the hands when hammering
- Artistic eye and keen sense of what is esthetically pleasing
- Welding experience or knowledge of metallurgy
YTEPP Limited offers training in Steel Pan Construction which leads to certification with the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ).
There was a time that the pan tuner did everything – he built the steel pan and tuned it himself. With the growth of the industry, people are specializing so that the tuner will have someone build the pan for him and he will take that pre-tuned or raw pan and make it into an instrument. This means that there is room in the industry for the specialist pan builder.
Demand for pan internationally is growing. Nigerians are enthusiastic about the steel pan and also in the United States of America and Europe. But there is need for a central agency to market the steel pan internationally.
Technology is changing internationally making the work less manual, also, in Switzerland, different metals are being used for different pans, and, different heating temperatures are being used for different pans. There is experimentation with the use of “black steel”, for example, the carberization of the metal to strengthen it in the steel pan construction process. Also, much of the equipment used in the industry originates in England while small tools may be made locally in a welding shop.
Thus there is scope in the steel pan industry for innovation and eventual export of not just the steel pans themselves but the technology used to construct the pans. In addition, we have been reinventing the steel pan with the introduction of the Percussive Harmonic Instrument (PHI) and the G-Pan. Another product which has some export potential is the mini pan. Thus the opportunity exists for Steel Pan Builders to engage in sustainable employment activities in the steel pan construction industry.
Pay
A salaried employee can earn anywhere between $4,000.00 and $7,000.00 per month is this job depending on his skill level. In some cases, where income is calculated at a piece rate, the Builder can earn between $500.00 and $1,200.00 per instrument, depending on the type of steel pan being constructed and the skill level of the builder. Where establishments compensate performance based on activities, a builder can earn between $300.00 and $450.00 per instrument where the drum is supplied by the customer.
Similar occupations
| OCCUPATION | DUTIES | ENTRY LEVEL EDUCATION | MEDIAN PAY |
| Welder (Basic) | Weld and cuts metal parts to fabricate or repair a variety of items and structures, using gas and/or electric welding equipment. | CXC O’levels or specialised vocational training in welding. | $4,480.00 – $6,240.00 per month (2011) |
| Automotive Body Straightener | Repairs and replaces body parts of automotive vehicles, using hand and power tools. | Basic education and specialised vocational training. | $4,960.00 per month (2010) |
Useful sources of information
PANTRINBAGO Inc., www.pantrinbago.co.tt
STEEL PAN TUNER/MASTER TUNER
The Steel Pan Tuner takes the prepared steel drum and refines it to a finished instrument. He/she completes the percussive instrument and his work is critical to the creation of a quality product. The work of the Steel Pan Tuner defines the steel pan industry. He exhibits the highest skill involved and carries out the most technical operation in the manufacture of a steel pan. He/she takes metal and converts it to a quality sound instrument.
Another important role of the Steel Pan Tuner is to tune/blend steel pans for steel orchestras for carnival, classical and other performances. The future of the steel pan industry therefore lies in the hands of the Tuner.
The Steel Pan (Master) Tuner is responsible for:
- Producing accurate pitch and tonal quality for the instrument
- Conducting quality checks to ensure tonal quality
The duties of the Steel Pan Builder are to:
- Examine the steel drum to ensure that it is suitable for tuning
- Through hammering, raise notes and tighten for burning of the pan
- Burn the pan to set the metal according to standards and requirements
- Isolate notes from surrounding material for stability of pitch
- Listen to notes and hammer to get the notes right
- Repeat process to get fundamentals and harmonic into the note
- Send the steel pan for coating
- Complete tuning and test for quality
- Take note of feedback from the customer.
Tuning a steel pan is complex. One must have knowledge of the various responses of the metal to the various tuning actions as the results can vary. Different Tuners have different idiosyncrasies; that is why every pan can sound different. One of the more difficult parts of the tuning process is balancing the partials in the note and the proper sizing of the notes.
A major challenge for the industry is the availability of suitable raw materials, that is, the drum. The drums that we receive are not of consistent quality. It is unfortunate, but the best quality material comes from drums that previously held toxic chemicals. These drums make a “sweet” pan, but they are dangerous.
It is important that the duties of the Steel Pan (Master) Tuner are executed according to performance standards. The steel pan should be of exceptional tonal quality and must be aesthetically pleasing to meet customer and industry standards as many products are exported. If this is not the case, the steel pan will not conform to production standards and will be discarded. This wastes material and represents a cost to the company. In addition, this can ultimately affect the viability of the export possibilities for the industry.
These duties are performed on a daily basis or according to the work schedule to meet production quotas. Different tuners take longer to tune a pan according to the precision that they required of their work. These tuners are the ones who are more in demand.
In some establishments there exists a pre-tuner and a master tuner. For the purposes of this document, the positions will be treated as one job as in the context there is much overlapping of the activities within these jobs.
The steel pan construction industry is made up of many small independent producers of steel pans throughout the twin islands. A few of these independent firms produce steel pans for export. Thus the Steel Pan (Master) Tuner can operate as an entrepreneur or as an employee in a steel pan construction establishment.
Reporting relationships for the Steel Pan (Master) Tuner:
Generally, the Steel Pan (Master) Tuner is accountable to the customer, and, if the person is employed in an organization, he/she will report to the owner of the establishment, or the person who has responsibility for production operations. The Steel Pan (Master) Tuner seldom reports on his performance unless he is employed in a steel pan factory. The Steel Pan tuner however, is accountable to the customer in terms of the quality of his product.
The Steel Pan Tuner will supervise the work of others, in particular, the Steel Pan Builder who works to the specifications of the Tuner. The Steel Pan (Master) Tuner may interact with other employees in the work environment. In addition, the Tuner may interact with the Builder, the coating department/company. Also, the tuner will interact with suppliers and customers to acquire material and identify and verify building requirements.
Work Schedule of the Steel Pan (Master) Tuner:
The Steel Pan (Master) Tuner may work a five day, eight hour work week in a permanent position on a full-time basis, if working with an established company, as well, if the Tuner is a sole proprietor, the work schedule can be dependent upon demand for the product. The working hours for the Steel Pan (Master) Tuner can be long depending on the work schedule, in particular with the run up to the carnival season, the work load becomes hectic.
Physical environment:
The Steel Pan Tuner is not exposed to machinery with moving parts but is required to wear protective gear to ensure personal safety in the performance of his/her duties. The protective gear includes ear plugs as the noise level in the work environment is high. The Steel Pan Tuner may also be exposed to heat in the burning of the drum.
The Steel Pan Builder is sometimes required to keep records of the work that has been completed.
Tools and Equipment Used:
- Hammers of different sizes
- Stroboscope (tuning instrument)
- Tuning stand
- Files
- Rulers
- Drafting templates
It is said that the more advanced tuners are those who started first building steel pans. Steel Pan (Master) Tuners need training. This training can be obtained through apprenticeship or through formal training for vocational skills. The University of Trinidad and Tobago offers a course in Advanced Steel Pan Tuning.
It is also important that the Steel Pan Tuner have a strong musical background. He/she must have keen discernment of pitch in technical musical terms. The Steel Pan Tuner must understand the tonal envelope. Thus he/she must have musical knowledge and understand the science of sound. The tuner should also understand the science of metals.
The Tuner must possess keen listening skills and proper hammering techniques. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are essential. Most times the Tuner must be an innovator in order to achieve the proper tones given the use of different grades of metal for each steel drum. The Tuner must also be able to competently use tuning instruments.
Having a musical ear is an advantage as well the Tuner must be patient and committed to producing a quality instrument. A person who can play the instrument to a high level of proficiency will also be more competent as a Tuner.
There was a time that the pan tuner did everything – he built the steel pan and tuned it himself. With the growth of the industry, people are specializing so that the tuner will concentrate on processing the pre-tuned or raw pan to make it into an instrument. Tuners are needed, especially internationally – to the point where there are cases of international customers who may be willing to purchase a ticket for a tuner from Trinidad and Tobago to come to their country to “blend a pan”. This may change however as there are many tuners who are being trained in the United States of America.
Demand for pan internationally is growing. Nigerians are enthusiastic about the steel pan and also in the United States of America and Europe. But there is need for a central agency to market the steel pan internationally.
Technology is changing internationally making the work less manual, also, in Switzerland, different metals are being used for different pans, and, different heating temperatures are being used for different pans. There is experimentation with the use of “black steel”, for example, the carberization of the metal to strengthen it in the steel pan construction process. Also, much of the equipment used in the industry originates in England while small tools may be made locally in a welding shop.
Thus there is scope in the steel pan industry for innovation and eventual export of not just the steel pans themselves but the technology used to construct the pans. In addition, we have been reinventing the steel pan with the introduction of the Percussive Harmonic Instrument (PHI) and the G-Pan. Another product which has some export potential is the mini pan. Thus the opportunity exists for Steel Pan (Master) Tuners to engage in sustainable employment activities in the steel pan construction industry.
Pay
A Tuner can earn anywhere between $6,000.00 and $15,000.00 per month is this job depending on his skill level and experience.
Another performance area is that of servicing of instruments, for example, used instruments may require blending, this utilizes a different set of skills. The Tuner may need to reintroduce tonal quality to a steel pan that he/she did not construct. With the blending of a steel pan, where income is calculated at a piece rate, the Tuner can earn between $700.00 and $1200.00 per instrument, depending on the type of steel pan being blended.
Similar occupations
Fine tuning for the steel pan is an intricate activity and measuring and the art of precision are also important to build a good steel pan. The pan tuner must also be skilled in using tools. All of these competencies and attributes can work for any other skill that takes precision and care.
Useful sources of information
PANTRINBAGO Inc., www.pantrinbago.co.tt