Starting this year, the Freshman band and Symphonic band (FBSB) percussion studio has been split into a separate period from the rest of the FBSB wind ensemble — a first for the historically combined groups.
In previous years, FBSB has consisted of all band students not in the audition-only Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE), rehearsing both their concert and marching band music during 1st period. Now, all FBSB percussionists are in a new 5th-period class, while the rest of the band remains in 1st period FBSB.
According to percussion director Sean Clark, the switch happened because of the growing percussion section — from 34 students last year to 38 this year — along with a large incoming freshman class both this and next year.
“We just don’t have enough facilities to rehearse the band and rehearse our percussionists [at the same time], especially during the 1st-period class,” Clark said. “So we created the 5th-period class because we didn’t have any music classes that met them at that time, and this allowed us to have space to actually rehearse larger ensemble pieces.”
Percussion, the rhythm section of the band, provides fundamental tempo control for the greater wind ensemble, and is integral to the stability and sound of the band as a whole.
However, because they still perform with the rest of the band, the separate periods have introduced a disconnect in collective band rehearsal time. To combat this issue, the FBSB wind and percussion ensembles practice together during a few select Blue Day tutorials in preparation for their fall, winter, spring and summer concerts.
“I think (the split periods) can be annoying because you spend a lot less time with the band as a whole,” junior Meera Minocha said. “A lot of us have friends in other sections, and it’s limiting because we don’t get to see them at all anymore.”
While the bulk of the percussion class time is spent working on concert percussion ensemble music, another benefit of the separate class is that it allows time for students to work on their marching band music in the fall semester and the winter percussion music in the spring semester.
In the beginning of the year, students spent their time working on the rudiments of percussion — like drumming and basic mallet technique — including individual time for each student to develop their independent skills. As they move forward in the semester, the class has begun incorporating more percussion ensemble pieces, allowing students to have parts that fit their different skill levels.
“With the extra class time, students get to uncover more and they get more microscopic with their playing,” Clark said. “So it helps their preparation in the long run.”
