Imagine moving the contents of your office into a truck, driving to a new location, unloading and setting up in a gym, doing your job, then moving everything back into the truck. This is part of a typical drumline season during the winterguard session. By the end of a competition day, the ‘office’ has moved six times. This mad relocation and four months of practice revolve around a six-minute competition routine called Rising Tide.
During the regular marching season, the drumline adheres to a specific format. However, from January through April, members let loose and perform in indoor competitions all over Northern California. They have customized music, outfits and a percussion show. This season, the musicians performed that show eight times under the direction of instructors Matt Lowe, Jon Boo and Adam Clay.
Before leaving Benicia for a performance, equipment is loaded onto a truck. Parents drive, sometimes nearly 90 miles, while students sit silently, focusing on their routines. For drivers, a carload of silent high-school students can be rather disconcerting.
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Upon arrival at the competition site, equipment is set up in a parking lot, and 27 members break into groups for a three-hour practice. As showtime draws near, members of the drumline must find a bathroom or vehicle in order to change into show uniforms — black velvet overcoats with buckles. Then, the drumline and band boosters roll equipment across speed bumps, curbs and potholes to arrive at the gym.
They perform a whispered run-through and a mock routine to amp up for the performance as they wait. When the gym door opens, the clock starts and the adrenaline rush begins as the team unfolds its vinyl performance floor. Next comes a flood of helpers who know exactly where to set up each piece of equipment. And finally, the six-minute performance begins.
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The show is a raw and edgy commentary on oppression and the rise against it. Artfully crafted by using every percussion instrument possible, it is a marvel to watch. Each person operates a station in the pit or carries instruments around on the floor; many can’t even see their feet because of the drums they are carrying. Then, six minutes later, they hit the last note and with the clock still ticking, all hands are on deck to rush the equipment in ‘crash cart’ fashion out the door.
Occasionally there is a technical malfunction. These students act like professionals and are unfazed. One day, a major glitch occurred in which half the soundtrack didn’t function during a performance, a cymbal strap broke an hour before the show and a guitar string snapped.
The drumline motto seems to be anyone can perform a task well when all parts are working correctly; but it is a true professional who can complete it when countless wrenches are thrown into the machine. This is just one of many life lessons learned in a band program.
While the Benicia High marching band swept every competition they entered, the drumline had to endure some last place finishes to start the season. They put in long, cold wet hours of practice and it paid off in the end.
Their last two performances earned first-place trophies. One finish put almost three points between the Panther drumline and the second-place finisher, and another finish missed the ultimate championship title by a mere third of a point.
At the final performance of the year and the last time that Rising Tide would be performed, the team captain said, “Make it your best. Do it for the seniors and the instructors. Do it for the show.”
The routine is like an old friend and it is really hard to bid it farewell. Run into a member of the drumline this week and you’ll see a mixture of melancholy and pride in their eyes.