Hameed Shaqq, known as "The Pan Piper of Toronto", is a name synonymous with Steel Pan music excellence. Shaqq hails originally from Arima in Trinidad, where he played and learned to develop love and respect for the Steel Pan Instrument. Primarily, Shaqq is a solo performer, playing at private and public functions, Community centers, bookstores, libraries and schools. He was greatly influenced and trained by some of Trinidad's  Virtuosos of Steel pan music while playing Steel pan with Invaders, Silver Stars, Solo Harmonites,  Arima All Stars and also an original member of Arima Pan Pipers Steelband;

Hameed has since expanded his awesome talent onto the Canadian music scene, entertaining and educating Canadians audiences.

 Shaqq is an innovative Canadian steelpan  musician and with regards to Steelpan and education, he has been teaching and  describing the origin and evolution of the steelpan , explaning the fabrication while demonstrating techniques for  playing the instrument with  students of all ages. His passion for the Steelpan Instrument has led him on a ongoing quest to publicize and promote the world's youngest acoustic instrument.

 The universal appeal of Shaqq's Steelpan music is evident in the wide variety of his clients, which includes, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the NBA, where he performed with Pan Fantasy Steelband as they played the American and Canadian anthems. First annual Eglinton Jazz Festival, other events included The Beaches Jazz festival, Ontario Place, Harbourfront Entertainment Centre, Canadian National Exhibition {CNE}, University of Toronto {Hart House} Rexdale Microskills, Ontario Early Childhood Centres, North York Hospital Foundation, Ministry of Youths and Children Services (Accredited Volunteer) Correctional Secondary Schools , Toronto General Hospital, Humber Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, Nelson Mandela Park Public School, Dunrankin Public School {Malton} Leslieville Public School. Many other venues such as the  Old Mill Inn and Spa, Delta Chelsea Hotel, Michealangelo's Banquet Hall, Royal Botanical Gardens, Sheraton Hotel, Liberty Grand has feature the Panpiper in Dinnners and other Events..

Hameed Shaqq is no stranger to the media and has made appreances on  television and appearences, in Movies such as Down Came a Blackbird, Knights of South Bronx, Bleechers Bums. TV programmes such as Music Mondays on YTV-the Zone, Toronto's Breakfast TV, Much Music on City TV, the Garden Show on the New VR (Barrie),  Fairchild TV{Asian network} Christine Crushing Cooking Show {Food Network} Canada AM {CTV} TVO, CBC Radio One; Metro mornings with Andy Sheppard, Go with Brent Bumbury. CKLN 88.1 FM with Andy Barrie, FM 93.5 with Dr Jay's Soca Theraphy, York University's Radio announcer, William Doyle Marshall  "My Data Bag" on FM 105.5 and others Medias also hosted the Panpiper of Toronto. As a member of Ontario Steelpan Association All-Stars,  Shaqq was present in Toronto's Caribana presentation at the Chinese International New Year Celebrations both in 2004 and 2005 in Hong Kong, China. 

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Panfantasy Steelband in the NBA

 

 

 T

 First Steel Pan Instrument and Player to play in

the Sky Dome: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

 Poems in my     Pans©

 

 

 

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Pan for the People

The Steel Pan is both a pioneering discovery and a unique ground breaking invention in relationship to the physics of all musical instruments in the world of music. Since, 6th century BC when Pythagoras the "Greek Father of Mathematics", calculated and established the musical cycle of fifths in musical theory, the Steel Pan is the only musical instrument comfigured to follow this systematic sequence of intervals. Mr Anthony Williams; the first person to create this instrument in Trinidad.

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After the invention of Steel Pans the World was presented with a New Symphony and Ochestral sound. The Steelpan inventions has become a new frontier for musical instruments in the 20th century and beyond. This is only one of the many different reasons, why so many people worldwide are drawn to this unique idophone instrument.

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"Panmageddon" The Gathering in Trinidad of all Steelpan Players, Steelbands and peers, performs the Official version of our Nation Anthem, this will help to increase international traffic at another time of the year other than Canival. This period can be used to illustrate other genres of music as Classical and Jazz in their true form played by Steelband Orchestras.

 National Steel Pan week/Month that can be use to invite the many steelbands from around the world including, the USA, Europe, Canada, Africa and other Caribbean Countries. With many International events and complimentary competitions, live performances, seminars, workshops and other activities, spread over the week/month, there are many rewards and benefits to our local economy, National Instrument and for the country as a whole.

 In modern times, how many "Great Countries can claim an invention of a National instrument in the 20th century, a new Symphony, an Ochestral Instrument alongside the traditional Winds and Strings Symphony.

World Steelpan Music Gathering and Performance August 31, 2012

Trinidad & Tobago

Take a journey to the original Mecca of the Steelpan and pay Tribute the  most unique musical instrument invented, The first pioneers to follow the Pythagorean theory and calculations of the cycle 5ths in the circular configuration of Music. The 20th century's only Musical invention.

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To the Government of the Repuiblic of T&T

Please declare August 24 - 31 2012

National Steel Pan Week

Futhermore, Please declare, the month of August 2012 National Month of Steel Pan by an

                   Act of Parliment.

An open letter to the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Arts and Culture Mr. Winston Peters: Please foward a Private Member's Bill declaring the Steelpan Our National Emblem and musical instrument.

Please host a World Steelpan Musical Performance of all Steelbands playing our National Anthem in Trinidad and Tobago! The former Consulate General to Canada in 2009, was sent this proposal, as another suggession to help commemorate and celebrate the 50th Independence of Trinidad and Tobago in 2012.This is the Golden Year of Independence certainly it is a historical land-mark to the Country and People as a whole.

In 1962 the government did not declare the Steel Pan our National Instrument, subsequently, the Goverment must pass an Act of Parliment to officially declare Steel Pan, an Emblem and the National Instrument. I also propose that Steelbands and Steel Pan Players World-wide gather in their Cities to perform the official version of the National Anthem of T&T, as a tribute to the Pioneers and People of "The Land of the Steel Pan. The above memtioned event will raise awareness to the true origin of the Steelpan and its symbolism to Cultural Expression and freedom.

The Steel Pan Instrument is the response to cultural oppression, therefore, is as revelant as a symbol of Freedom as the Statue of Liberty is to the USA.".  

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         Diagrams from 1600-1700's

                   Down came a Black Bird with Raul Julia

Enter

The above mentioned event will raise awareness to the true origin of the Steelpan and its symbolism to Cultural Expression and freedom.The Steel Pan Instrument is the response to cultural oppression and is as revelant as a symbol as the Statue of Liberty is to the USA.

"May God Bless our Nation"

The Pan Piper™