Join us
No audition. No experience. Just come.
Most members first touched a steelpan at rehearsal. We teach every part.
How it works
Start from zero.
Everyone gets in
We hold no auditions. If you are a Harvard College student and you want to play, there is a pan for you.
We teach you
You do not need to read music. We teach parts by ear and by hand in rehearsal.
Instruments provided
The ensemble owns its pans and sticks. Bring yourself; everything else is waiting in the room.
Rehearsals
Mondays and Thursdays · 7–9 p.m.
Fill in the interest form for the current room and next open rehearsal. There is no commitment in showing up.
Common questions
I have never played an instrument at all. Really?
Really. A large share of the ensemble started from zero. Pan is unusually welcoming that way — the notes are laid out in front of you, and you can make a genuinely good sound on your first afternoon.
Do I need to read sheet music?
No. Parts are taught by ear in rehearsal. Reading is useful but never required.
How much time does it take?
Two rehearsals a week during term, plus performances, which cluster around the end of each semester. We know you have problem sets.
Do I get to travel?
In January 2026 fifteen members spent Carnival season in Trinidad and played a concert at Theatre One, UTT. That took a year of fundraising, and we would like to do it again. See what it was like.
Do I have to be a Harvard student?
No. Anyone who wants to play is welcome, including students from other schools — our transportation chair, Courtney, is at MIT. Email us and we will sort out the details.
When can I join?
Most people join at the start of the fall semester, but we take new members throughout the year. Fill in the form whenever you are reading this.