This article was adapted for the Teacher Hub from Paynard's Unveiling the C-20 steel pans.
For many UK schools, the Jumbie Jam has become the go-to starting point for introducing steel pan (read our article on the Jumbie Jam here). It’s colourful, approachable and easy to teach, even for non-specialist staff. But once pupils have fallen in love with that sound, what comes next?
This is where the C-20 pan comes into its own. Developed by Panyard in the USA and available from Chamberlain Music, the C-20 is a full-size lead pan that has been designed specifically with education in mind. It offers a more advanced musical experience than an entry-level pan, but remains approachable enough for classroom use, whole-class projects and growing steelbands.
Who is the C-20 steel pan for?
Traditional lead or tenor pans typically have between 28 and 30 notes and are built primarily for professional players and established steel bands. They sound wonderful, but they can be expensive, not suited for busy school environments and, historically, difficult to source in a reasonable timeframe.
At the other end of the spectrum, instruments like the Jumbie Jam are compact, diatonic and intentionally simplified, making them perfect for first experiences and Whole Class Ensemble Teaching.
The C-20 sits neatly between these two worlds. It is a 20-note chromatic lead pan: a genuine steelband instrument with a wider range and more musical possibilities than an entry-level pan, but without some of the extremes that make full professional tenors challenging for younger or less experienced players. In other words, it’s a natural “next step” instrument and an excellent way to add a more authentic steelband colour to a classroom or ensemble.
A familiar sound, reimagined for learners
One of the key design decisions behind the C-20 is the note range. Panyard’s research confirmed what many educators already suspected: the highest notes on a traditional lead pan are rarely used in school settings, and they are often the least stable and most difficult for beginners to play cleanly.
By omitting those top notes and refining the range to 1.5 octaves, Panyard have been able to give more physical space to the remaining 20. Each note area can be shaped, positioned and tuned with greater precision. For the player, this translates into a clearer, more stable sound across the range, fewer “mystery” pitches around the edge of the pan and a layout that feels less intimidating at first glance.
Learners still get a full chromatic range that supports real repertoire and improvisation, but on a surface that is easier to navigate, easier to see and easier to play musically.
Precision pan-building and consistent sound
Behind the scenes, the C-20 is the result of years of refinement in Panyard’s workshop in Akron, Ohio. They work with carefully specified steel and a controlled manufacturing process: Bowls are pressed to a consistent shape; the note geometry is scientifically designed, and then each pan is hand-hammered and tuned by an experienced pan builder.
The result is an instrument with a reliable, repeatable sound. Whether it is being played quietly in a classroom or projected in a concert hall, the C-20 responds with a clear, singing tone and a dynamic range that suits ensemble work. For teachers, that consistency matters. It means new pans blend well with existing ones, tuning is more stable over time, and pupils aren’t fighting the instrument to get a satisfying sound.
Designed with real classrooms in mind
The note areas are clearly marked, which helps pupils find their way around the pan quickly. This is particularly useful when you are teaching notation reading, pattern recognition or call-and-response activities. Because the instrument is responsive and stable, students tend to reach a “good sound” earlier, which in turn builds confidence and keeps them engaged.
In a typical school timetable, instruments are often shared and moved between spaces. The C-20 has been designed to withstand regular handling, with finishes and build quality that stand up well in busy departments. Combined with suitable stands and mallets, it slots comfortably into music rooms, practice spaces, general music lessons and dedicated steelband rehearsals.
Progression from Jumbie Jam
For schools already using Jumbie Jams, the C-20 is a logical next chapter.
The layout will look familiar to pupils, but the added chromatic notes and larger playing surface immediately open up new musical possibilities. Students who began on Jumbie Jam often relish the opportunity to “graduate” to a full-size pan; the C-20 offers that experience without leaping straight to a professional-level instrument.
This makes the C-20 particularly helpful for:
- Pupils preparing for GCSE or college performance components
- Extra-curricular steelband clubs where you want a more authentic sound
- Transitions into area music hub groups or youth steelbands, where chromatic flexibility is expected
Teachers might use a single C-20 as a demonstration instrument at the front of the class, or build a small section of them within a larger pan group. In either case, it enriches the sound and supports progression.
Supporting existing steel pan programmes
If you already run a steelband, you will know that acquiring new pans has not always been straightforward. Lead times could be long, and it wasn’t unusual for schools to wait many months – even over a year – for new instruments.
The C-20 was developed partly in response to that reality. Panyard’s production methods allow them to supply high-quality pans more quickly and consistently, and those instruments can be integrated into existing bands without the need to replace entire sets.
For UK schools and hubs working to budgets and curriculum cycles, that improved availability is significant. It makes it easier to expand a group when pupil numbers increase, to rotate instruments between sites, or to keep a small fleet of “ready to go” pans for short courses and projects.
Why the C-20 stands out for education
Taken together, these features – the carefully chosen 20-note range, the precision manufacturing, the classroom-friendly design and the improved availability – make the C-20 a particularly attractive option for education.
It offers more musical depth than an entry-level pan, while still being genuinely accessible for younger players and non-specialist teachers. It supports clear progression routes from Jumbie Jams through to full steelband participation. And it does all of this with a sound quality that reflects Panyard’s long-standing commitment to the steel pan tradition.
Find out more
Chamberlain Music now supplies the C-20 lead pan in the UK, along with suitable stands, mallets and complementary classroom percussion for steelband projects.
Whether you are just starting to explore steel pan, looking for a step up from Jumbie Jams, or expanding an existing steelband, our education team would be very happy to discuss which combination of instruments will work best for your setting.
