Special to The Roanoke Times

Steel drum groups use the term "orchestra," but little about the ensembles that are playing today at the Lyric Theatre reflects the rigor usually associated with the word.

Two new Blacksburg-based steel drum orchestras are bringing their pans, as their instruments are called, for a debut concert at 1 p.m. today. Panjammers and Island of Pan - and the award-winning, Roanoke-based Pan-A-Mania Steel Drum Orchestra - hope to demonstrate their skills, spread the word about a new Blacksburg steel drum program and raise money for local swim teams.

"We're excited, but nervous," admitted Cameron Buss, 8, who will be playing lead pan with Panjammers. His sister, 11-year-old Kate, will be on double second pan in the ensemble.

Steel drums have crescendoed in popularity in the past decade. Their origins are on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, where the drums emerged when street bands turned to using metal biscuit tins to hammer out rhythms.

According to Maxens Berre's writing for the Latin American Folk Institute, Winston "Spree" Simon is credited with playing the first tuned tins. In 1946, Ellie Mannette created the first steel pan from a 55-gallon oil drum. Mannette now serves as adjunct faculty at West Virginia University and sponsors steel drum workshops.

It was at Mannette's conference two summers ago that the Blacksburg movement started.

"I was standing in line to register and started chatting with a family in front of me," recalled Richard Rudolph, director of the Blacksburg orchestras. "They told me that their son was very interested in steel drums, but there was no program in their town."

Rudolph owns Quest Academy, a private music school in Roanoke, with his wife, Delilah. The two musicians organized a steel drum program in Roanoke three years ago. Rudolph made arrangements to conduct a few workshops in Blacksburg and the program took off from there.

John and Leslie Gregg had bought their son, Evan, a pan during a trip to Trinidad. "We didn't have the foggiest as to what we were buying," Leslie Gregg said.

Their son was captivated by the instrument and began to pick tunes out with the help of his piano teacher. The Mannette workshop provided fundamentals, but the connection to Rudolph sealed Evan Gregg's participation in the steel drum community.

They attended one practice in Roanoke and have been driving there every Tuesday night since. Evan Gregg plays lead pan with Pan-A-Mania and also joins in with Panjammers, the more advanced of the two Blacksburg orchestras.

"It's very seldom that you can get something going into a community as quickly as we have seen at Blacksburg,"Rudolph said.

He attributes much of the success to the Greggs and Bill Ray, music director at Blacksburg Middle School. For now, the group is based at the school, but they are actively seeking a new home. Rudolph transports the drums from Roanoke to Blacksburg every two weeks, which is not good for any instrument. A permanent place for the group will let it keep the instruments in town and allow more frequent practices.

Perhaps another reason that steel drums have boomed is their ability to draw from all ages and backgrounds. Rudolph can take a complete amateur and have them playing a song within two to three hours. As a result, steel drum orchestras easily mix demographics. "It's a great activity for families," Ray said.

Leslie Gregg elaborated: "It's wonderful for kids. It is such a confidence-booster because you can become good very quickly. Plus, it has a very high cool factor."

The 39-person Blacksburg group has many families tapping out tunes together.

Laureen Blakemore started playing last summer. She plays bass while children Chris and Karys jam on double second and cello. Blakemore had no musical background, but learned quickly under Rudolph's tutelage. She confidently claims that anyone can learn to play.

An introductory steel drum workshop will be held 9 a.m.-noon on Monday at the Blacksburg Community Center. To register, contact Quest Academy at 427-3860 or quest.academy@cox.net.

Pan-A-Mania Steel Drum Orchestra with Panjammers and Island of PanWhen: 1-3 p.m. today

Where: Lyric Theatre, Blacksburg

How much: $7; proceeds go to Southwest Aquatic Team and the Blacksburg Sunfish. Steel drum basics

• Each drum is hand-made. Lead drums range in price from $800 to $3,000.

• There are seven types of drums: lead pan, double tenor, double second, guitar, cello, tenor bass and deep bass. An orchestra will have all of these in various combinations.

• A steel drum orchestra typically ranges from 12 to as many as 35 instruments.

• For more information see: www.pantrinbago.co.tt or www.lafi.org