Yesterday morning I watched and heard the coolest thing ever!...a high school steel drum band. The Greenville High School Steel Drum Band from Greenville, Pennsylvania had 36 members in it. The band was comprised of the lead, double second, guitar, four-cello, and bass steel drums along with drum-set and aux. percussion. They performed seven pieces, one being "Pan in A Minor" by Lord Kitchener Roberts. This piece was very intense and is a song that is often played in a pan drum competition. The group also performed an arrangement of the "Carmen Suite," by Georges Bizet. It was fantastic to hear classical music performed so well on steel drums. The group ended with a crazy and fun piece known as "Santana," by Fernando Filazola.
Growth With Scheduling! It's always nerve-racking when you fight for something, get what you wanted, and then wait to see if it is actually successful. Four years ago the Pentucket Regional Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Band sported around 40 members. Band and Chorus were happening during a "Skills Period" which is a time blocked off for students to make-up tests, quizzes, do homework, and get extra help. Basically, this would compete with Band and Chorus. Each day I had over 15 students leaving to go to other classes for Skills. To help solve this issue, I served on a scheduling committee at my middle school. Change occurred as a result of this committee and the leadership of the Principal, Dr. Debra Lay. This year we have split the 7th and 8th grade into two separate bands meeting Monday-Friday. Why did we do this? Firstly, so we would not have 30 percussionists in band at the same time which takes away from the experience for everyone. Secondly, so we can now focus
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High Wycombe Steel band