Here's a little history about the drums. After World War II, the Americans left a surplus of 55-gallon oil drums on the islands of Trinidad & Tobago. The island people love music and began experimenting by beating the drums, using rubber attached to a 6-8 inch wooden stick.

 The island people discovered that by changing the depth of the drums (cutting them down), counter-sinking the center and dividing the center into sections, that different sounds could be made. Known as "pan making", this has advanced to an art today.

 Steel drums are Trinidad & Tobago's national instrument, and are used mainly at Carnival time. "Carnival" is a celebration that occurs every year, starting right after Christmas and ending on Ash Wednesday.