Twelve years ago, the Corona del Sol Steel Band performed at Kyrene de las Manitas Elementary School. Watching them, Lisa Sellers, the music specialist, was moved.
“I was inspired by their joy and absolute excellence under the direction of Scott Werner,” she says. “Kyrene had no steel drum band at the time. I wanted to find a way to bring some part of the joy and excellence we had witnessed from Corona to my school. This would make us unique and special in Kyrene.”
So, Sellers went to her principal, who told her to put in a proposal to create one.
It was approved.
Learning to Play
Sellers, who is now the director/founder of Manitas Steel D.R.U.M. Ensembles at Kyrene de las Manitas Innovation Academy, had never seen the inside of a steel drum before the school received them, she shares, saying, “My ‘instrument’ specialty is classically trained voice. The manufacturer of our instruments gave me a 5-minute lesson on the day he delivered the steel drums. The rest I learned by participating in the annual Corona Adult Steel Drum band.”
A steel drum is a chromatic instrument, which gives its users a greater range of songs that can be performed but also makes them more challenging.
“On our elementary classroom barred instruments (little xylophones), all the notes are arranged in order from lowest to highest and in alphabetical order. On the steel drum, the notes are not in this order. To someone unfamiliar, it would appear to be some crazy random mix,” Sellers explains. “Each size of instrument has a different placement of notes. Our students rotate to play all the sizes. Later in the year, I teach interested fifth-grade students to play bass guitar and drum set so we have an official ‘engine room.’ No other elementary ensembles use an ‘engine room.’ Our students also create their own movement to songs which we call ‘visuals’ after the tradition at Corona. “
Today, the program is the only steel drum ensemble in Kyrene, and they are thriving.
Being Part of the Ensemble
Children can audition at the end of third grade, with participation beginning in fourth grade and continuing through to the end of fifth grade. No prior familiarity with steel drums is needed to audition—Sellers teaches the instrument to everyone in the ensemble.
This past school year, the ensemble consisted of nine fourth graders and nine fifth graders, though previous years have seen as many as 24.
There are two ensembles, and each rehearses three times per week—one morning before school for 40 minutes and then two 20-minute rehearsals during lunch recess time. While they mostly perform at Manitas Innovation Academy events, they do sometimes travel to other venues.
“My favorite thing about steel drums is performing and fostering my love of music,” says Everest S., a fifth grader who has played for two years. “I enjoy being a part of an ensemble and practicing with my bandmates.”
Learning More Than Just Music
In addition to the obvious reward of learning an instrument, “The kids get a music family and belonging,” says Sellers. “They feel special and unique because we are the only steel band in Kyrene. I know of no other touring steel drum group with students our age in the state. Playing the steel drums makes you happy. You can’t be sad around steel drums due to the quality of their sound, at least in my opinion. Students learn perseverance and grit while learning challenging parts. They have accountability with each other to learn their parts well because we are interdependent.”
And, when the Corona Steel Band comes to Manitas now to perform, Werner has allowed the fifth graders to play a song with “the big kids”—which Sellers says “just makes them glow.”
“My favorite Manitas Steel D.R.U.M. ensemble memory is playing with the Corona High School Steel Band because it felt amazing to play with such fantastic people!” agrees Ania W., a fifth grader who has played for two years.
While the portion of the ensemble’s name—“Steel D.R.U.M.” may seem like a nod to the instrument, it’s also an acronym meant to describe the character-building part of the program. “Steel” stands for, “We are strong like steel and do not give up;” “D” is for discipline—“We are self-disciplined in behavior and schoolwork;” “R” is for respect—“People with self-respect and respect for others make good decisions. They treat others the way they want to be treated … even when no one is watching;”—“U” is for unity—“We work together as a team. Say ‘we’ not ‘I;’” and “M” is for Manitas music—"We learn all these things through mastery in music.”
“I love getting to teach students who are incredibly eager to learn music,” Sellers says. “We laugh a lot. We become a musical family. The enthusiasm of the kids just fills my heart with joy. As the kids grow in skill, their confidence skyrockets. I love it when Manitas alumni join the Corona Steel band and come back to play for the Manitas students. The full circle and cyclical nature of this just fills my heart to overflowing. As I see those specific high school students playing, I still see them in my mind’s eye when they were first learning in my program. And then they inspire the current year steel drum students to do the same.”
As for the future, a third grade Introduction to Steel Drums class will be available this upcoming school year through Kyrene Community Education and will be open to all students in the community.
For more information and to stay updated on the performance schedule for next school year, visit https://sites.google.com/kyrene.org/manitassteeldrumensemble/home.
"Each size of instrument has a different placement of notes. Our students rotate to play all the sizes."
“They feel special and unique because we are the only steel band in Kyrene. I know of no other touring steel drum group with students our age in the state."