A machine can form a work piece into a bowl subcomponent of a steel pan musical instrument. The machine includes a pressure lid and a die mold. The die mold may be formed of non-metal layers stacked between metal layers. In example operation, a blank or work piece is inserted between the lid and die mold. The lid is pressed down (e.g., by a hydraulic ram), forcing a portion of the blank into a face groove of the die mold for sealing. Pressurized water or other fluid introduced between the lid and the blank exerts pressure on the sealed portion of the blank and stretches the blank to conform to a bowl shape of the die mold. Note regions can be introduced by this machine-performed shaping and/or by subsequent manual operations to further prepare the work piece for incorporation into a steel pan musical instrument.