Thanks to a recent workshop held at Delta Secondary, the Ladner high school may become home to its very own drumline.
The Yamaha sponsored ‘Start the Groove’ workshop was held at DSS’s Genesis Theatre on Tuesday morning. Each member of DSS music teacher Catherine Campbell’s senior band class got to play each instrument that makes up a drum line and learn several basic drum line rhythms.
The workshop was led by Michael Beauclerc, an established professional drummer, composer, and Canadian author. During the two-hour workshop Beauclerc instructed and demonstrated for the students on how to play the six snare drums, five bass drums and two tom drums provided during the workshop to make one cohesive sound.
Creating a drumline at DSS has been on Campbell’s radar for about two years she says, ever since she went to the Cantando Music Festival and saw Sardis Secondary’s drumline.
“I didn't even know what a drumline was honestly and I saw them doing their thing and I thought 'that's incredible!'” she said.
Campbell wasn’t alone though. When she announced the workshop to her students they were unsure of what a drumline was as well. After watching a few videos of drum lines in action though the students felt more inspired.
Campbell told the Optimist that right now she has a mix of different drums at her disposal, but joked that now that the students have had the chance to play the drums provided in the workshop it may be difficult for the students to go back.
“I think the big thing will definitely be finding the gear,” she said. “I would love to, I think it would be fabulous.”
Campbell noted that for a full set of drums like the ones provided in the workshop could cost upwards of $26,000.
As the drum line workshop went on Campbell said she had several students coming up to her asking when they could start their own.
