Kingston students rise to the 'Drum Challenge'

By WENDY TWETEN

Contributor

Drum roll, please.

Kingston’s newest after-school program, the Kingston Drum Challenge, is giving middle school students an opportunity to learn new skills while making beautiful rhythm.

Meeting 3:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the band room of Kingston Middle School, the program is designed as a fun, accelerated introduction to the world of drumline competition.

More than a dozen boys and girls ranging in age from 11 to 14 have enrolled in the challenge since the class began at the start of this year. The hour-long sessions include instruction in music reading, proper form, performance etiquette, and lots of hands-on practice for these beginning level students.

The young musicians pass a series of drumming challenges as they compete for a grand prize — this quarter a snare drum. By June the students should be reading music at a 10th grade level.

Instructor Terry Marsh is a professional musician and percussion teacher in Kitsap County. The owner of The Drummers’ Den studio in Poulsbo, Marsh came to North Kitsap after performing with his wife Tracie (a singer and bassist) on stages all over the world. Through his studio he provides private lessons, and rock and jazz band mentoring. He also serves as the head of music instruction at Poulsbo’s West Sound Academy and leads percussion ensembles and drumlines in many other North and Central Kitsap schools.

In 2007, four of Marsh’s students took championships at state drumming competitions. The following year Marsh founded the All-Star Summer Drum Line, a youth marching group that has so far taken top honors in every parade it’s entered.

The instructor hopes the members of the Kingston Drum Challenge will advance to a level at which they can take advantage of the numerous contests, percussion groups, parades, and drum shows in which his students regularly participate.

“I’ve done this kind of program before and I’m always amazed to see how well the students play by the end of the school year,” Marsh said. “With the younger students you never can tell when you’ve planted the seed of inspiration. I’ve had students who were awkward drummers as kids, but ended up being incredible composers or amazing drum-set performers as adults.”

Marsh believes now is an excellent time for teens and preteens to become involved in the local music scene.

“There’s a buzz in the state about music in Kitsap,” Marsh said. “There are some great school band programs here; a lot of colleges are surprised at the number of quality musicians coming from this area.

“Band teaches so much more than just music. Being a teenager can be rough, but I’ve seen music play a key role in keeping kids on the right side of the fence.”

Meet the ‘Challenge’

The North Kitsap Drum Show will be held in late April at the North Kitsap Auditorium at Poulsbo Middle School. For more information about Drummers’ Den classes contact Terry Marsh through www.drummersden.net.

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