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Ratta-tat-tat-tat! Ratta- Tat! Ratta-tat tat-tat! BOOM!
These sounds are characteristic to the drumline of a Marine Corps marching band, but many people do not fully understand the importance of these sounds.
"The drumline is the heartbeat of the band," said Master Gunnery Sgt. Michael Montoya, the III Marine Expeditionary Force Bandmaster. "If the drumline is off, it affects the whole band."
The drumline is an essential part of the band because it keeps the rest of the band in step during their numerous and sometimes complex formations.
"With a good drumline, there is no need to call a cadence because the drumline does it for you. We drive the band," said. Cpl. Vince Wright, the percussion section leader. "We really have to be meticulous and precise because the rest of the band depends on us."
Montoya, who choreographs the band's performances, said he usually lets the percussion section get creative with their performance.
"I tell them what I want to see and how much time they have, and they make it happen," said Montoya, a Virginia Beach, Va., native. "There are times I have to tell them to go back and change it, but they understand it is for the success of the whole show, so they charge ahead and get it done."
Wright, a Memphis, Tenn., native, choreographs a lot of the percussion cadences and movements.
"Once I get the chance to sit and listen to the music, I can come up with some good stuff," he said. "But you can't get anywhere if you don't listen to the music."
Three members of the III MEF band percussion section are not actually true percussionists, yet they don't miss a beat during a performance, said Montoya.
Sgt. Robert Gillespie, who is originally an oboe player, said he likes the percussion section because it offers him more of an opportunity to travel and show the world what the III MEF band is all about.
"Although it isn't what I do every day, I enjoy playing percussion because it is something different and a lot of our music doesn't need oboe players, so it gives me more opportunities to perform."
Cpl. Michael Perkins, a guitarist, said playing percussion gives him the opportunity to learn something new.
"It gives me a chance to travel more and expand myself as a musician," he said.
"Being able to learn another instrument gives me the chance to have an overall musician's experience."
Through hard work and dedication, the III MEF drumline continues to amaze people throughout the world with their uncanny precision and remarkable performances.
For more information on III MEF band performances contact 645-3919.
| Date Taken: | 01.14.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.14.2010 20:53 |
| Story ID: | 43852 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 473 |
| Downloads: | 131 |
This work, Talented drumline: important ingredient in marching band, by Cpl Monty Burton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
