The road less trod - Jamaican musician tries to make his name on the pans

It is not often that a young musician aspires to play the steel pan. Instead, there's a plethora of young acts trying to make it on the dancehall and reggae scene.  Ravon Rhoden is just one of the few who has decided to trod along the not-so-beaten track.

Coming from a humble background, the 20-year-old grew up in Montego Bay and started playing the steel pan at age 10.

Rhoden's mentor and teacher, Errol Caseley, had been schooling children as a means of keeping them off the street. This was how Rhoden found his way under the tutelage of the steel-drum player.

It was Caseley who formed the band Watcha, for which Rhoden occasionally plays. However, after Caseley's death, Rhoden took over and continued teaching.

Although he is currently a solo player, Rhoden played with the band at the 2009 Jazz and Blues Festival, among a few other shows.

"I am marketing myself via Facebook. I have some videos on YouTube, and a band page on Facebook as well," he said.

"There are opportunities for the steel pan. You can play on cruise ships overseas and in the tourism areas," he said. "But I want to play more for locals."

His ultimate dream is to bring the steel pan into schools, expressing that it is only in Jamaica that this musical instrument is not included in the education system.

"Steel pans are played in schools in Trinidad," he pointed out.

Rhoden has also appeared on Smile Jamaica and plays at weddings, beach parties and private functions.