From the Panyard to the PhD

Born and raised in Trinidad, the land of the steelpan, Dr. Savitri Rampersad’s journey began not in childhood, but as an adult in 1999. Undeterred by societal barriers, she pursued every avenue to master the instrument—from “Passing the Hammer” tuning courses to the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

Her academic pursuit culminated in a PhD in Cultural Studies in 2022, driven by a singular mission: to document the power embedded in the sound of the pan.

Documenting the Undocumented

For decades, the power of the steelpan was felt but never fully explained. My research moves beyond the history of the instrument makers to focus on the sound itself.

The goal is to document the cognitive and emotional impact of the steelpan, bringing academic rigor to the world of vibrational wellness through Steelpan Sound Therapy®.