Tag: steel band

The are over 600 school steel bands in the United States. These groups are targeted towards different groups of students (whether intentionally or not). The curriculum and pedagogy used along with literature selection delineates which students have access to the ensemble. For example, if the ensemble uses only fully notated charts then non-readers are unlikely to approach the ensemble. Conversely, directors that incorporate rote learning are more likely to attract students that do not participate in band/orchestra/choir. My feeling is that a mixture of pedagogies and literature provide an environment that is accessible to many and is fertile ground for students from differing musical backgrounds to collaborate.