Brownsville band members
express need for new drums

By CHRISTINE HAINES

Herald-Standard Staff Writer

BROWNSVILLE - When it comes to drumming up support, the drum
section of the Brownsville Area High School marching band can't be beat.
For the second meeting in a row, members of the drum section pitched
their need for new drums to the school board. When the outgoing board
indicated support but didn't take action last month, band members decided
to try again at the first meeting of the newly organized school board.
Michael Kilgore, a 10th grade student who is the assistant section leader,
was one of four drummers who approached the board Tuesday. The
musicians didn't rely on mere words to sway the opinion of the board
members; they brought two badly worn bass drums with them.
''Our drums are past repair,'' Kilgore told the board.
The band members pointed out cracked shells and torn covers on the
drums, and demonstrated how the bolt which holds the carrier onto the
bass drum, telling how it had fallen off during a field show, forcing the
drummer to hold the large instrument with one hand and play with the
other.
The drummers were concerned about the need to have the new drums
before the spring trip to Florida for a competition.
Band director Anne Behary said she had no idea the band members were
going to the meeting, let alone taking the drums with them.
''I knew we had the support that we needed, it was just a matter of getting
it done,'' Behary said.
By the end of the board meeting, the school board had unanimously voted
to approve up to $8,000 for the purchase of new drums for the band.
One of the drummers called Behary following the meeting to let her know
the funding had been approved. Behary, who has been looking for drums
for some time, said she sent in the order Wednesday morning. The bill for
six snare drums, two sets of quad drums and five bass drums will come to
$8,585, including the carriers and the cases, Behary said.
''They approved $8,000, so I guess the kids will be raising the rest of it,''
Behary said.
The price was the lowest of the quotes Behary was able to get. The bill
could have been as high as $9,415 for a slightly higher quality of drum, and
neither price includes customizing the drums with the band's name or
school district.
''We're not going to have the name put on. That would be a lot more
money,'' Behary said. ''Maybe we'll put it on the drumheads next year.''
Behary is expecting growth in the drum section next year. She said the
drums purchased this year should be sufficient to replace the damaged
instruments this year and allow for expansion of the drum section next year.
Since the drums will be custom-built, Behary said it will most likely be the
middle of February before they are delivered. She said that will still give the
drummers enough time to get used to the new instruments before the All
American Music Festivals competition in April in Florida.

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