Welcome to the NSSBE website! The National Society of Steel Band Educators is a professional organization dedicated to advancing steel band education in the United States. Through the information presented on this site, and also through our annual professional conference, we aim to be a central resource for those who direct or lead steel bands in the U.S., and to foster a sense of community among practitioners of this wonderful art form, which originated on the island of Trinidad.

As you explore the site, please take a moment to visit our About page, where you’ll find our mission statement, and our goals. I also encourage you to take advantage of our many offerings, including:

• The Steel Times: the journal of our Society, published electronically two to three times per year.
• Archives of helpful articles [see the drop-down for Steel Band Resources above] addressing fundamental issues in directing and leading steel bands.
• Links to various teaching resources and other resources such as directories of pan builders/tuners, theses and dissertations, and other publications.

Finally, if you are not currently a member of NSSBE, we hope you will consider supporting our community through your membership, when the time is right for you. Through developing and expanding our network of pan educators, we will strengthen our ties, and inspire one another to pursue excellence.

Sincerely,

Chris Tanner, President

 

On Saturday, February 27, 2021, NSSBE hosted their third annual conference via the Zoom webinar platform. The conference was an unqualified success, with members in attendance from across the country, and featuring accomplished artists and practitioners representing a diverse array of experiences and teaching situations. Please consult the NSSBE Program 21 FINAL here for session details and biographies of all of the distinguished presenters.

 

The Britain Moore Duo — Mat Britain and Dan Moore — served as headliners, opening the event with a session on current and future trends in North America, and closing with a virtual concert of pre-recorded performances, representing their decades-long presence in the pan scene. 

 

NSSBE is looking forward to returning to an in-person Professional Conference in 2022. Watch this space for details as plans unfold.