Former middle school drum major furthers passion in music

As lights illuminated characters dressed in black on floats in California’s Disneyland Resort last February, the upbeat music from Michael Sweeny’s “This is My Country” filled the air.

The backstage gates opened and Redwood Middle School’s marching band began marching down Main Street. Leading the band stood freshman Deyshna Pai, then an eighth-grader, alongside her co-drum major, current freshman Tony Lee. As Pai marched in the night parade with famous Disney cast members, she knew this moment was one that she would never forget.

“As I was marching, I thought to myself, ‘I’m part of a parade that I’ve seen all these official Disney characters march in, and now I’m a part of the Disney cast,’” Pai said. “I remember [that parade] as one of the best things I have done in my life, and I still get that thrilling feeling when I think about it.”

Pai now holds a comparatively lowly position in the high school band: She is a flutist. Her interest in music began as a toddler when she started dancing and listening to music.

“My hobby and passion for playing music escalated [as I grew up],” Pai said. “I just really loved being able to play an instrument.”                                                                                                                                 

Pai joined band in fifth grade and has been playing ever since. Her enjoyment with music led her to apply for drum major in eighth grade.

“I thought that I could make a difference in Redwood’s band and help out, so I filled out an application,” Pai said.

Being a drum major helped Pai develop a greater sense of leadership, as she would run back and forth through the entire band, pointing out various marching techniques.

“Being drum major helped me get to know everyone and form even more friendships,” Pai said.

Through her transition from middle school band to high school band, Pai was faced with harder marching techniques, ones that required more diligence and precision. These included backward marching and slides, a type of marching in which one faces one direction but marches the other way.

Last year in band, musicians tried their best to stay in line with each other while moving forward in a block. According to Pai, she now has a personalized itinerary on the field, moving in all sorts of directions across the field.

Pai also added that band this year involves more marching with instruments, a task that requires technique.

On the plus side, she enjoys the time she gets to spend with people inside and outside of school. Throughout the two weeks of band camp during the summer, Pai was introduced to several members and made many good friends.

“Now, there’s always someone to smile at and say hi to when walking through the halls,” she said.  

Though she is now in a bigger band with no leadership position, Pai feels that her experience being in a band is not that different from the one she had at Redwood.

“The people are really welcoming, and I feel like I’ve been here longer than I actually have,” she said.

Pai feels that she really cannot compare her experiences in terms of leadership, since being drum major at Redwood is different than the procedure involved with being drum major in high school. While Redwood’s drum majors led the band through parade marching, Saratoga’s drum majors stand on podiums to conduct the band during field shows, an experience that Pai has never felt.

“I cannot compare my experiences with parades to what I see this year’s drum majors do,” she said. “They’re way different experiences so I can’t really do justice comparing the two.”

Though being a drum major was a great experience for Pai, as of now, she is not sure what is in store in terms of music during her high school band career.

“What I do in four years, I’m not really sure. But, for now, I’m just going to enjoy the ride,” Pai said.