SPRINGFIELD — Five minutes watching the Springfield High School
Percussion Ensemble will shatter any band-nerd stereotypes you might
have.
It may also leave your ears ringing.
This band is loud. And fun. And talented.
Talented enough, in fact, for the group — which includes the drumline, which plays at football and basketball games — to be invited to perform in Seattle at this weekend’s Western International Band Clinic, a three-day event that draws band directors and top-flight band students from throughout the Pacific Northwest to work with international guest conductors.
Organizers of the clinic, who keep tabs on up-and-coming bands across the nation, invite would-be participants to audition; in Springfield High’s case, one of the clinic managers lives in Springfield and was able to watch the audition in person. This year’s six performers include acclaimed high school bands from Virginia, Arizona and Texas.
Along with dozens of family members, Superintendent Nancy Golden, Springfield High Principal Chris Reiersgaard and four of the five school board members will make the trip to watch the Friday performance.
“I’m not sure our own students know comparatively just how good this group is, but at face value they know it,” said board Chairman Garry Weber, who has two daughters in the music program at Springfield High. “I can tell you from talking to my own kids, this drumline — they’re like rock stars.”
On Tuesday, the group’s 20 members gathered at the school auditorium for the second daylong rehearsal since Saturday. Director Dana Demant seemed pleased with the way the music sounded, but fretful about how long it was taking the students to move instruments between sets. He told them he only had so many jokes and introductions
“I’m running out of things to say, the audience is hemming and hawing,” he said as they scurried to rearrange the stage for junior Matthew Keown’s marimba solo. “The old ladies are starting to boo.”
Rearranging is a big job. The instruments include bongos, bar chimes, all manner of snare drums, congas, cymbals, marimbas, a gong, a tambourine, timpani drums, a xylophone, a triangle, mallets, African drums called djembes and a shaker.
It may also leave your ears ringing.
This band is loud. And fun. And talented.
Talented enough, in fact, for the group — which includes the drumline, which plays at football and basketball games — to be invited to perform in Seattle at this weekend’s Western International Band Clinic, a three-day event that draws band directors and top-flight band students from throughout the Pacific Northwest to work with international guest conductors.
Organizers of the clinic, who keep tabs on up-and-coming bands across the nation, invite would-be participants to audition; in Springfield High’s case, one of the clinic managers lives in Springfield and was able to watch the audition in person. This year’s six performers include acclaimed high school bands from Virginia, Arizona and Texas.
Along with dozens of family members, Superintendent Nancy Golden, Springfield High Principal Chris Reiersgaard and four of the five school board members will make the trip to watch the Friday performance.
“I’m not sure our own students know comparatively just how good this group is, but at face value they know it,” said board Chairman Garry Weber, who has two daughters in the music program at Springfield High. “I can tell you from talking to my own kids, this drumline — they’re like rock stars.”
On Tuesday, the group’s 20 members gathered at the school auditorium for the second daylong rehearsal since Saturday. Director Dana Demant seemed pleased with the way the music sounded, but fretful about how long it was taking the students to move instruments between sets. He told them he only had so many jokes and introductions
“I’m running out of things to say, the audience is hemming and hawing,” he said as they scurried to rearrange the stage for junior Matthew Keown’s marimba solo. “The old ladies are starting to boo.”
Rearranging is a big job. The instruments include bongos, bar chimes, all manner of snare drums, congas, cymbals, marimbas, a gong, a tambourine, timpani drums, a xylophone, a triangle, mallets, African drums called djembes and a shaker.
Oh, and metal pails,
five-gallon plastic tubs, a
set of PVC pipes and six of
those foam pads you kneel on
while gardening.
“This is going to be different,” said Demant, who has attended the clinic for 12 years and says performances are typically more symphonic and traditional. “We are very serious, but there’s also a level of humor and fun that we hope to bring.”
“This is going to be different,” said Demant, who has attended the clinic for 12 years and says performances are typically more symphonic and traditional. “We are very serious, but there’s also a level of humor and fun that we hope to bring.”
Demant said a critical
mass of talent has been
building in the group
for the last couple of
years, thanks in part to
the involvement of Alan
Keown, Matthew’s father,
a professional
percussionist who writes
and publishes marching
band music. He’s been
the drumline’s
instructor for almost
three years, Demant
said, and wrote and
arranged what may be the
most difficult piece in
the program, “Layers.”
He also did arrangements
for two crowd- pleasing,
ear-shattering numbers —
Michael Jackson’s
“Smooth Criminal” and
Rush’s “YYZ,” which
begins and ends with a
screeching electric
guitar solo.
As for Matthew, he’s a budding virtuoso. A drummer for the last eight years, he won four gold medals — on rudimental snare, orchestral snare, timpani and multiple percussion — and a silver on mallets in last year’s Oregon State Solo Competition, tying a record set in 1995.
Matthew said he loves “all the different options” percussion offers, and routinely practices for eight or nine hours a day on weekends.
“We have pretty nice neighbors,” he said with a grin.
He and other students said they’re jittery but elated about the upcoming performance.
“It’s the biggest thing our band department has ever done at our school,” Matthew said.
While many of the students in the ensemble have played drums or other instruments since elementary or middle school, others are novices, Demant said.
“What’s cool is showing that you don’t have to have private lessons to be part of a great ensemble,” he said.
As for Matthew, he’s a budding virtuoso. A drummer for the last eight years, he won four gold medals — on rudimental snare, orchestral snare, timpani and multiple percussion — and a silver on mallets in last year’s Oregon State Solo Competition, tying a record set in 1995.
Matthew said he loves “all the different options” percussion offers, and routinely practices for eight or nine hours a day on weekends.
“We have pretty nice neighbors,” he said with a grin.
He and other students said they’re jittery but elated about the upcoming performance.
“It’s the biggest thing our band department has ever done at our school,” Matthew said.
While many of the students in the ensemble have played drums or other instruments since elementary or middle school, others are novices, Demant said.
“What’s cool is showing that you don’t have to have private lessons to be part of a great ensemble,” he said.
Senior Mandy Kruse played alto saxophone as a freshman, but fell in love with drums after watching the drumline perform at games. She took up snare drums as a sophomore.
“I love it,” she said.
Superintendent Golden, who has a reputation for attending virtually every high school play or musical performance, said there was no way she’d miss this one.
“I love this stuff,” said Golden, who — along with the board — recently launched an initiative to integrate the arts more fully at all grade levels. “The music program is so important for us — it draws so much of the community. Schools should be the center of the community, and I think all the programs are doing that in Springfield.” To that end, the community will have a chance to preview the show at a free performance at the auditorium Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
“I love it,” she said.
Superintendent Golden, who has a reputation for attending virtually every high school play or musical performance, said there was no way she’d miss this one.
“I love this stuff,” said Golden, who — along with the board — recently launched an initiative to integrate the arts more fully at all grade levels. “The music program is so important for us — it draws so much of the community. Schools should be the center of the community, and I think all the programs are doing that in Springfield.” To that end, the community will have a chance to preview the show at a free performance at the auditorium Thursday at 7:30 p.m.