Abstract: A device for entering, editing, and outputting representations of notes to be played on a steel pan includes a processor, a display, an input and output device, and software adapted to display a representation of a steel pan having concentric rings of note pads, receive a user selection of a series of notes to be played, and display the user-selected note series with a tablature system, which includes a staff having three horizontal lines positioned atop each other, a first line representing a center ring, a second line representing an inner ring, and third line representing an outer ring of note pads. For each note pad, a rhythmic indicator is adjacent the horizontal line commensurate with the note pad position. The note name is positioned above the respective rhythmic indicator. At least a portion of an electronic representation of the user-selected note series is output to the output device.

Abstract: A tool is provided for assisting in teaching music to a player of a steel pan/drum. The tool comprises a substantially circular base divided into twelve radial sectors, a central sector, and three concentric, radially spaced rings, thereby having 37 elements. Each element bears an indicium representative of a unitary, distinct note name in a range of three consecutive octaves plus a first note in a fourth consecutive octave. Each ring is arranged in so that a counter-clockwise-adjacent note name is separated by an interval of a fifth and a clockwise-adjacent note name is separated by an interval of a fourth.

Abstract: A device for digitizing a series of notes to be played on a pan instrument includes a processor and software installed on the processor that has a code segment adapted to display a virtual keyboard on a display device. The keyboard has a plurality of pianistically arranged keys, each key having a note name corresponding to a pitch represented by the key imposed thereon. A code segment can receive a user selection of a pan instrument for which music is desired to be entered, retrieve a note range for the selected pan instrument, and electronically mask the virtual keyboard to exclude keys outside the retrieved note range. User input can be received for a series of notes to be encoded for playing on the selected pan instrument.

Abstract: A steel drum teaching tool includes a circular base divided into twelve radial sectors and three concentric rings, defining 36 note elements. An adjacent note name in a first radial direction is separated by an interval of a fifth, and an adjacent note name in a second radial direction, by a fourth. A translucent mask is rotatably affixed to the base and has a central portion divided into twelve radial sectors and three concentric rings corresponding to the base. A pair of ring sections extend about seven of the radial sectors and are divided into inner and outer sector elements corresponding to the central portion. The inner ring sector elements have indicia designating notes in a respective key to which the mask is aligned; the outer ring sector elements, indicia designating notes in a respective relative minor key. Additional aspects include an electronic tool and a method of use.

Abstract: A steel drum teaching tool includes a circular base divided into twelve radial sectors and three concentric rings, defining 36 note elements. An adjacent note name in a first radial direction is separated by an interval of a fifth, and an adjacent note name in a second radial direction, by a fourth. A translucent mask is rotatably affixed to the base and has a central portion divided into twelve radial sectors and three concentric rings corresponding to the base. A pair of ring sections extend about seven of the radial sectors and are divided into inner and outer sector elements corresponding to the central portion. The inner ring sector elements have indicia designating notes in a respective key to which the mask is aligned; the outer ring sector elements, indicia designating notes in a respective relative minor key. Additional aspects include an electronic tool and a method of use.

Abstract: A tool is provided for assisting in teaching music to a player of a steel pan/drum. The tool comprises a substantially circular base divided into twelve radial sectors, a central sector, and three concentric, radially spaced rings, thereby having 37 elements. Each element bears an indicium representative of a unitary, distinct note name in a range of three consecutive octaves plus a first note in a fourth consecutive octave. Each ring is arranged in so that a counter-clockwise-adjacent note name is separated by an interval of a fifth and a clockwise-adjacent note name is separated by an interval of a fourth.

Abstract: A device for entering, editing, and outputting representations of notes to be played on a steel pan includes a processor, a display, an input and output device, and software adapted to display a representation of a steel pan having concentric rings of note pads, receive a user selection of a series of notes to be played, and display the user-selected note series with a tablature system, which includes a staff having three horizontal lines positioned atop each other, a first line representing a center ring, a second line representing an inner ring, and third line representing an outer ring of note pads. For each note pad, a rhythmic indicator is adjacent the horizontal line commensurate with the note pad position. The note name is positioned above the respective rhythmic indicator. At least a portion of an electronic representation of the user-selected note series is output to the output device.

Abstract: A device for digitizing a series of notes to be played on a pan instrument includes a processor and software installed on the processor that has a code segment adapted to display a virtual keyboard on a display device. The keyboard has a plurality of pianistically arranged keys, each key having a note name corresponding to a pitch represented by the key imposed thereon. A code segment can receive a user selection of a pan instrument for which music is desired to be entered, retrieve a note range for the selected pan instrument, and electronically mask the virtual keyboard to exclude keys outside the retrieved note range. User input can be received for a series of notes to be encoded for playing on the selected pan instrument.

Abstract: A system for digitizing a series of notes to be played on a steel pan/drum includes a processor, and a display device and an input device in signal communication with the processor. Software encoded on a computer-readable medium and installable on the processor has a code segment adapted to display a virtual keyboard on the display device. The keyboard has a plurality of pianistically arranged keys, each key having a note name corresponding to a pitch represented by the key imposed thereon. A code segment can receive a user selection via the input device of a pan instrument for which music is desired to be entered, retrieve a note range for the selected pan instrument, and electronically mask the virtual keyboard to exclude keys outside the retrieved note range. User input can be received for a series of notes to be encoded for playing on the selected pan instrument.

Abstract: A tablature system for representing a series of notes to be played on a steel pan/drum having concentric rings of note pads is provided, wherein each note pad is for producing a distinct musical pitch. The tablature includes a staff having three horizontal lines positioned atop each other, a first line representing a center ring of note pads, a second line representing an inner ring of note pads, and third line representing an outer ring of note pads. For each note pad to be represented, a rhythmic indicator is provided that lies adjacent the horizontal line commensurate with where the note pad to be represented lies. For each note pad to be represented, the note name is positioned above the respective rhythmic indicator.

Abstract: A tool is provided for assisting in teaching music to a player of a steel pan/drum. The tool comprises a substantially circular base divided into twelve radial sectors, a central sector, and three concentric, radially spaced rings, thereby having 37 elements. Each element bears an indicium representative of a unitary, distinct note name in a range of three consecutive octaves plus a first note in a fourth consecutive octave. Each ring is arranged in so that a counter-clockwise-adjacent note name is separated by an interval of a fifth and a clockwise-adjacent note name is separated by an interval of a fourth.

Abstract: A tool is provided for assisting in teaching music to a player of a steel pan/drum. The tool comprises a substantially circular base divided into twelve radial sectors, a central sector, and three concentric, radially spaced rings, thereby having 37 elements. Each element bears an indicium representative of a unitary, distinct note name in a range of three consecutive octaves plus a first note in a fourth consecutive octave. Each ring is arranged in so that a counter-clockwise-adjacent note name is separated by an interval of a fifth and a clockwise-adjacent note name is separated by an interval of a fourth.

Abstract: A tablature system for representing a series of notes to be played on a steel pan/drum having concentric rings of note pads is provided, wherein each note pad is for producing a distinct musical pitch. The tablature includes a staff having three horizontal lines positioned atop each other, a first line representing a center ring of note pads, a second line representing an inner ring of note pads, and third line representing an outer ring of note pads. For each note pad to be represented, a rhythmic indicator is provided that lies adjacent the horizontal line commensurate with where the note pad to be represented lies. For each note pad to be represented, the note name is positioned above the respective rhythmic indicator.

Abstract: A system for digitizing a series of notes to be played on a steel pan/drum includes a processor, and a display device and an input device in signal communication with the processor. Software encoded on a computer-readable medium and installable on the processor has a code segment adapted to display a virtual keyboard on the display device. The keyboard has a plurality of pianistically arranged keys, each key having a note name corresponding to a pitch represented by the key imposed thereon. A code segment can receive a user selection via the input device of a pan instrument for which music is desired to be entered, retrieve a note range for the selected pan instrument, and electronically mask the virtual keyboard to exclude keys outside the retrieved note range. User input can be received for a series of notes to be encoded for playing on the selected pan instrument.

Abstract: A four-octave soprano steel pan set includes a first pan and a second pan. Each pan is divided into three concentric rings and six radial sectors. An outermost of the three rings is further radially divided into two portions, to form twenty-four note pads. Each note pad is adapted to produce a distinct musical pitch when struck. Each of the radial sectors has four note pads therein, the four note pads in each of the radial sectors in octave relation to each other. Thus the twelve total radial sectors of the first and the second pan contain the notes sufficient to span four octaves.