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Elder Owls of Steel and TCU Steel Band members performing at the 2025 TCU Percussion Festival
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Elder Owls
Elder Owls
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Steel
Steel
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I teach a steel band and percussion ensemble twice a week for my after-school music ensemble. This ensemble is made up of various percussion instruments such as xylophones, bells, metallophones, drums, as well as some AMAZING instruments from the Caribbean called steel pans (or steel drums)! We work really hard and have a lot of fun in Steel Band here at Elder Elementary.
Students in 4th and 5th grade are eligible to audition for the Elder Owls of Steel. Auditions will begin in August and will conclude at the end of September. Students do not need any prior musical experience to audition- I will show them what to play! 😊 I am looking for students who are well-behaved, good listeners, who can play a steady beat, repeat musical patterns, and have good attitudes.
Students who make the band are expected to attend every rehearsal (sickness/ emergencies will be excused. Please contact me if your student must miss rehearsal). Rehearsals are on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4:45 PM. After-school practices will start at the end of September, and will conclude at the beginning of April, after we have our Spring Concert.
Annual Steel Band Performances
Annual Steel Band Performances
After-School Winter Concert in December (date TBD)
Christmas Sing-Along (for Elder students and staff only - no outside visitors)
After-School Spring concert in April (date TBD)
Spring Talent Show (date TBD. Parents and visitors may attend the Talent Show)
About the instruments used in Elder Owls of Steel
Students in Steel Band perform on instruments from the percussion family. Students play on a variety of percussion instruments including xylophones, metallophones, bells/ gockenspiels, drums, various hand percussion instruments, and unique instruments called steel pans, the large, shiny barrel-shaped instruments.
We currently have 8 steel pans in our ensemble. The single drums are called leads or tenors, and the double-drums on a single stand are called double seconds.
These steel drums are very special. Traditional steel drums were made from 55-gallon barrel oil drums, but today they are made from high-quality steel. The steel drums at Elder are made on the tiny island nation of Trinidad in the Caribbean, and then imported to Austin, Texas, where they are tuned by my wonderful pan tuner, Emily Lemmerman!
Ms. Lund and Ms. Lemmerman at the 2023 TCU Percussion Festival
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