Wednesday, February 25, 2009
When the Marching Jayhawks marched off the field after the Insight Bowl in December, some of the drumline weren’t quite ready for the marching season to end. They decided to form a ne group that would keep the music coming during the marching offseason.
The group is called Winter Drumline and its members practice and perform during the spring semester to stay in musical shape.
“We play for gigs and for ourselves,” said Andy Jackson, Overland Park sophomore and snare drum player. “It’s a cool time to do things we don’t get to do in the fall.”
Greg Haynes, Atlanta graduate student and drumline instructor, said that the indoor group was working on incorporating electronic music into its performances and that the Winter Drumline’s music would be different from that of the Marching Jayhawks drumline.
“Instead of playing music that accompanies the rest of the band, a lot of the music for the drumline can stand on its own,” said Haynes, who writes the music for both drumlines. “We have a little more freedom to explore different performances.”
Kevin Walter, Olathe freshman and Jeremy Denham, Reeds Spring, Mo. senior, rehearse Sunday night at Murphy Hall for KU’s new Winter Drumline. This new section of the KU marching band, which is made up of 24 drummers, gives marching band members a way to practice during the spring, as well as provides an opportunity for those who are not in the marching band to be part of a drumline group. Winter Drumline performs at athletic events, as well as private functions.
Jackson said the idea for Winter Drumline came last March after the KU Drumline was invited to play at the Keith Urban concert at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. The drummers needed a way to keep practicing as a group in case a similar opportunity arose.
“We thought it would be the perfect opportunity to start something at KU to sustain and recruit new membership and to do something different and separate from what we do as part of the Marching Jayhawks,” Haynes said.
Although many of the 25 members of the Winter Drumline also play for the Marching Jayhawks, Haynes said the Winter Drumline was open to any drummer.
Alex Churn, Overland Park junior and bass drum player, said the Winter Drumline gave students the opportunity to play on a drumline that didn’t require the intense time commitment of marching band. The Marching Jayhawks practice five days per week, but the Winter Drumline practices for one hour on Sundays.
“We just get together and play drums for the fun of playing drums,” Churn said. “There’s not really any pressure and that’s pretty cool.”
The Winter Drumline recently performed at the Hawks, Cops and Kids event at Robinson Health Center, put together by local police officers and the Athletics Department.
The drumline will also play at the end of the KU Percussion Ensemble performance on March 4 in 130 Murphy Hall and at the men’s basketball game against Texas on March 7.
In the next few years, Haynes said he could see the drumline eventually moving into competing with other drumlines.
Haynes said the Winter Drumline will continue to rehearse and perform until late spring or early summer, when auditions for the marching season begin.
For more information about the Winter Drumline, visit www.kansasdrumline.com.
— — Edited by Chris Hickerson
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Comments
And the beat goes on...
Can you guys please bring back the old snare patterns for the fight songs? The stickings are much cooler looking!!
Rutabaga 1, 2
R L R L R R L R L R L L R L rr ll
Offbeat Paradiddle 3, 4, 5
R L R L R R L R L L R L R L R L
Matt Miner 93-98
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