Glissando Home Page

Click here to see Videos of Glissando in Rehearsal and Performance of Panorama 2007

Glissando was started in 1960 and has a soundproofed panyard built for the band by Kensington & Chelsea in 1987 (opposite the car park entrance of Kensington & Chelsea College in Wornington Road W10}. This exciting and safe space is permanently set up with the pans ready for use.

	We can accommodate 12 to 15 comfortably but in rehearsals for Panorama there may be as many as 40 using the space.
Young people who are struggling with English as a second language will find identity and achieve here, as you do not have to speak English to learn the steel pan. It is not necessary to have any musical knowledge to start with provided you can listen and do what's asked of you. We teach by rote, so as a beginner you play the pattern you are shown or copy the person next to you. Pupils from ethnic minorities will not be in the minority here. If necessary older pupils who have considerable musical knowledge may benefit from something more specific, for example we can provide access to a jazz pianist who can incorporate the steel pan into that arena. All tutors have their own styles and provide positive role models.
	Adults & children benefit from being in or around the steel band. Panorama & Carnival keep old & young totally occupied for several weeks in the summer holidays. There have been trips to play in Europe .
Glissando's Saturday classes are free and are open to all age groups. Every year around the month of July, Pan Players begin to attend rehearsals for the annual National Steel Bands Panorama Competition and the Notting Hill Carnival. Panorama is held on the Saturday before the Carnival. Various steel bands play before judges plus a large audience. The Competition has been broadcast via Radio and the winner is crowned Panorama Champion. Since entering Panorama the highest positions Glissando have been placed are third and second. Glissando is an international Steel Orchestra. Our Arranger is flown in from Denmark. Players of all ages have joined from Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Trinidad & Tobago. Groups of members include players aged from seven to twenty, Twenty to Forty and Forty to Sixty+. With adequate financial backing, we can continue to incorporate players from other countries with the aim to win the competition.
Membership Glissando's players range from five upwards. Parents can come along and play as well if they want to. To Join: All you have to do is call the Venture Centre on (020)8 960 3234 or come along to a practice (see Diary for current days/times). We are at 103a Wornington Road, London W10. To find it go along Golborne Road towards Trellick Tower, turn left into Wornington Road about 50m before the bridge over the railway, go 150m and look out for the Venture Centre sign on the left. The panyard is the long low building with a blue door at the far end.
more about Glissando link(s): http://www.nostalgia.pan-jumbie.com/contact.html