Drumming my way Through 10th Grade

Another part of my creativity involved playing the drums in general, mostly for the school bands. I am part of the Concert and Jazz Bands in ISK, so I end up practicing up to five times a week. This does not affect me. I have had the same set up for two and a half years, so the waking up early and the overwhelming drumming throughout the week does not stress me out or tire me.

Concert band this year was a completely different experience than last year. As I stepped into the classroom on the first day of school, I did not see any of my fellow drummers from last year, or any of the trumpets, flutes and low brass. This was shocking as the entertainment from band last year came from both the music and the cross-room arguments and competition between the different sections. I knew it would not be the same as the new nine-graders did not have the brash loud nature of some of the band players in my grade: T.J., Fanuel, and Nandi. I was right.

After a few classes, I did not like band as much as I had used to. The drummers that had come from the Middle school were lacking the basic skills needed, such as sight-reading and rhythm. I was assigned by Mr. Ligon to help teach the new drummers basic music and skills, but they were disruptive, stubborn, and preferred talking to each other rather than playing music. I had nearly given up on them. I was playing all the music for the drums section while they were talking. If one of them had not made an effort to learn, I would have dropped out of the band.

However, by the second semester, I had seen some improvement in all three of the drummers. They had started to try, started to take on more challenging music, and most importantly, they were focused. Mr. Ligon’s decision for me to help them had paid off and one of them looks like the perfect replacement for me when I leave the school and the band at the end of this year. The concert band taught me leadership above all and how to improve other drummers as well as myself through it.

Jazz band was a completely different experience. As usual, the music was challenging, fun, and different. All of my old band friends were still in Jazz Band so I was not as lonely as I was in Concert Band. Waking up early was no problem as Jazz band always woke me up like sports did. Mr. Ligon pushed me to my limits with the complex music, and at some points, I would temporarily give up until I had mastered the beat or section. This was the pattern for the entire year. Today, I am happy that Mr. Ligon pushed me so much as my skills have improved a lot and I am ready for whatever challenge that involves music awaits in my new school.