What If A Woman Invented Pan? Part two.

Emily Lemmerman believes more women need to be “swinging the hammer” as steelpan tuner and builders.

There is nothing inherent in the construction of the steelpan that is beyond a woman’s strength or skill or imagination. I myself have been sinking and tuning pans for two decades. But the miracle of the birth of pan in Trinidad cannot be divorced from the cultural circumstances of its time, and in its early days, there was little room for women in its yards.

In 2020, women are barely yet swinging hammers themselves. We have close to zero women involved in the manufacture of the instrument. There is still a massive cultural barrier. When I tell people that I sink and tune pans, I am often met with outright disbelief – it is hard for some to believe that I have a career as a pan tuner.

The future of the steelband artform can only benefit from the insight, skill and talent of women. I hope to inspire others to embrace their own passion and ambition, even if their field doesn’t yet include anyone who looks like them.

The craft of making pans is not about brute strength or power. No hammer is too heavy for women to wield with confidence, precision and artistry. With courage, passion and good training, there is room in this artform for us all and our gifts. Use that hammer to break those glass ceilings!

The owner of Barracuda Steel Drums, based in Austin, Texas, Emily Lemmerman studied the art of building and tuning pans directly with Ellie Mannette from 1998-2004. She now works as an internationally recognized pan tuner, and is the first and only woman to tune for Trinidad and Tobago’s Panorama competition, as well as for any Panorama worldwide. Emily is also active as a performer, clinician and composer, and is published by Boxfish Music and Hillbridge Music. A member of the National Association of Steelband Educators Steering Committee, she is also the Assistant Editor of NSSBE’s magazine The Steel Times and contributes to it as a columnist.