Dealing With Change

- Kylie Dean

Change is never easy for a large group to take in stride. In 2015 during my freshman year, the West Branch High School Warrior Band in Beloit, Ohio, went through many huge changes. A color guard, majorette line, and drum majors were added.

Being in any of these new groups was very difficult. The band was very hesitant to listen to a drum major as opposed to a director. The drum majors had a hard time getting respect from the band.

By the next year, the drum majors got a little bit better. A lot of hours of work and some serious trial and error have made a huge difference.

After two years in the guard, I was asked to try out for drum major, and I made it.

LEADER IN TRAINING

In the month and a half between drum major tryouts and band camp, I realized that the band wouldn’t take me seriously if I weren’t good at what I do. The hard thing about being new to having drum majors is that there really isn’t a huge line of leaders before you to set a standard of expectations.

I spent most of my summer watching baton - twirling tutorials from The Ohio State University Marching Band. It is definitely difficult, but eventually I can pass on the things I learn onto the next drum major. Everything has a beginning, and I just happen to be at the beginning of this particular unit.