Steel Pan Lessons

Online Steel Drum Lessons

caladesi-steel-band-sandpearl-clearwater-beach

We are now accepting students for private lessons remotely by video conference! We are partnering with some of the best and busiest professional teachers and musicians. We offer steel pan, drumset, percussion, and more instruments to come. Absolute beginners to advanced will be accepted, some music reading ability is helpful, but not required.

Tampa Bay Steel Orchestra NCAA Women's Final Four Halftime Show

Our group includes founding members of the Busch Gardens Steel Band and the Tampa Bay Steel Orchestra. We performed at Modern Drummer Magazines Drum Festival, and the Thoroughbred Music Drum Festival. We played St. Petersburg First Night with American Idol Finalist And recording artist Michael Lynch. We were featured with the Florida Orchestra Pops Series in 2005 and 2009, and were the featured halftime show for the NCAA Women’s Final Four Basketball Championship.

Tampa Bay Steel Orchestra Live
Online Steel Drum Instructors

John Shaw

John Shaw is the principal percussionist with The Florida Orchestra, which he joined in 1992. He has been with the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, North Carolina since 2008, where he also serves as principal percussion. Shaw earned a bachelor’s of music degree from Florida State University, where he studied with Gary Werdesheim, and a master’s of music degree from Temple University as a student of noted Philadelphia Orchestra percussionist Alan Abel. John is a founding member of the Tampa Bay Steel Orchestra.

Steel Pan and Harp Duet - Lily Lake Road - John Shaw & Anna Kate Mackle

Joe Braccio

Joe Braccio, guitarist and steel drummer, teaches at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg College, Pinellas County Center for the Arts, John Hopkins Communicatons Magnet and also taught briefly at Clearwater Christian college. Joe started the curriculum for both guitar and steel drums at Perkins elementary, John Hopkins middle, the PCCA. Joe co-started steel drums with John Shaw at St Petersburg College, and is a founding member of the Tampa Bay Steel Orchestra.

Dave Holmstrand

Dave is the leader of the Caladesi Steel Band. He was a founding member of the Busch Gardens Steel Band, and the Tampa Bay Steel Orchestra. He studied percussion at Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles, studying with Joe Porcaro, Ralph Humphry, and Efrain Toro. Currently, his group Caladesi Steel Band performs at resorts and events all around Florida.

Brian Scott

Pinellas County schools music teacher, and director of the St. Petersburg College Steel Band.

Beginning Steel Pan

This is geared towards students with little or no steel pan experience. We’ll help you choose an instrument and recommend builders that can supply new or reconditioned instruments. We’ll show you the basic care and technique of the instrument, and get you started on basic songs right away. You’ll learn about the history of the steel pan, calypso, and the culture of the birthplace of the pan, Trinidad and Tobago. We’ll be very hands-on as we progress into basic rhythms and melodies to get you enjoying the instrument as soon as possible.

Intermediate to Advanced Steel Pan

You’ll continue to advance with more advanced rhythms and reading music. You’ll study advanced steel pan players and learn about the panorama steel band arrangements from Trinidad. You’ll also learn about pan in modern and popular music. We’ll challenge you to become a better pan player and musician.

More to come


Our experienced professional teachers will work with your musical abilities and schedule. Contact us for more information.