Life on the Line
Sophomore Marching Season
Ally sat on the bus next to her best friend Tammy, who had been dubbed Phoenix in their freshmen year by a senior bassman. The two sophomores had their drumsticks and practice pads out, working on rudiments and cadences. Phoenix and Ally were the only two girls on the battery, or drumline, that year, but there were three freshmen girls in the pit who would probably make the battery next year. Andrew Vicks, a senior snare drummer and the battery captain, was also drumming away two rows behind Ally and Phoenix.
Kerri and Cara, two of the freshmen pitters, sat in the row next to Phoenix and Ally. "So Phoenix," Kerri said, turning in her seat to face the older girl, "how did you get that name anyway?"
Phoenix put down her sticks and said, "Steve, the senior on fourth bass last year, said I looked like something engulfed in a fire with the way I was always wearing red or orange. So one day he came up to me and was like, 'Tammy, you could fly like a phoenix. And you look like one too.' Kinda cheesy, I know, but I guess it just stuck. Everybody started calling me Phoenix after that."
"Cool," said Cara from the window seat.
"Yeah," said Phoenix. A slight lull in the conversation followed.
"Hey, do you guys have your sticks and pads?" Ally asked the two freshmen. They nodded their heads and started digging through their carry-on bags to get them out. "We'll teach you some cadences. By the way, what do you guys want to play next year?"
Cara answered immediately, "Bass."
Kerri looked embarrassed for a moment, then said, "Snare."
Phoenix smiled. "Awesome. You can show the guys how it's done."
Ally and Kerri switched seats so Ally could teach Cara some cadences on bass drum since she was on third bass that year.
Phoenix did her best to help Kerri get a jump start on some cadences on snare, but she only knew a few because she herself was a tenor player. She eventually had to resort to the sheet music for the cadences that the battery had received earlier in the season.
An hour later, the pit section leader called all his pitlings together for a meeting a few rows up from Ally and Phoenix, where most of the pit was sitting. Kerri and Cara moved up three rows and Ally went back to her seat. "Did Cara say which bass she wanted to play next year?" Phoenix asked Ally.
Ally answered, "She said second or third." Then she smiled and added, "I think I might have a run for my money—well, bass drum—at tryouts next year."
"You really think so?" Phoenix was doubtful her friend would lose her place on the battery.
"Yeah, you never know," Ally said. "So how did Kerri do? Please tell me you did not purposely teach her the wrong stuff because you're too lazy to dig out the music."
"Don't worry, Ally, I got out my music and everything. What, did you really think I would just teach her some random rhythms that fit in the groove?" Phoenix smiled reassuringly.
Seven months later: Battery Tryouts for the Next Season
All the percussionists sat outside the drum room, working on last minute touches on their audition materials. Since the band director, Mr. Swotcher, had decided they would audition by seniority, the juniors (the seniors for next year) were the first to go.
Jason, who had tried out for fifth bass, emerged from the drum room smiling. "How'd it go?" asked Dan, another of the upcoming seniors.
"Good," said Jason. "I think I'll have another year on the end of the bass line."
Brad, who was the first of the upcoming juniors to audition, was next. He put his hand on the door handle, turned around to look back at everyone, and said, "Wish me luck." But before anyone could even open their mouth to say good luck to him, Brad had disappeared into the drum room.
Fifteen minutes later he came out. "Before you ask," he told everyone looking expectantly at him, "I don't know what to think of how I did."
Now it was finally Ally's turn. She and Phoenix did their good luck handshake, then she grabbed her sticks and music and entered the drum room.
"Alright, Ally, what are you auditioning for?" the drum coach asked.
"Third bass," Ally responded nervously.
"Okay. Why don't you start with Bucks?"
Ally carefully marked time and watched her stick height on the accent tap exercise. Then she played Double Beat, Triplet Control, What a Drag, and Sixteenth Note Timing. All too soon it was time for the part Ally had been dreading most: sight reading. She flipped the piece of music over on the stand in front of her and started air-sticking through it.
"Your thirty seconds are up," the drum coach told her after what seemed like thirty minutes. He turned a metronome on at 120 beats per minute. "Here's your tempo. Begin when you're ready.
Ally took a deep breath and counted herself off with the standard eight clicks. She got through the piece fairly well, but the flam paradiddles threw her off slightly.
At last the audition was over. Ally heaved a sigh of relief and went back into the main part of the band room. Dan immediately asked her, "Well, how was it?"
Ally shrugged. "I think I did okay."
Jason shook his head. "You think you did okay? I know you were more than okay. You're always being so modest."
After everyone had auditioned, Mr. Swotcher told them the results would be posted the next day. Ally, Phoenix, Jason, Dan, Brad, Jack (an upcoming senior who tried out for snare), and Eddy (an upcoming junior who tried out for fourth bass) went out to eat at Capalbo's, the local restaurant that supported the marching band and served as a hangout for its members. They all felt their nerves ease as they laughed and ate the greasy Italian buffet food.
True to Mr. Swotcher's word, the results were taped on the drum room door the next day:
Battery
Bass Snare Tenors
1 Jessie Dan Phoenix
2 Cara Jack Brad
3 Ally Michael
4 Eddy Kerri
5 Jason Billy
Pit
Jeff Greg
Chester Natalie
Alex Mike
Christy Trey