HARLINGEN — Tight explosions of thunder erupted from the drums as students practiced their new pieces for marching band.
“We’re learning the show music,” said Alexander Castillo, 16, a junior at Harlingen High School South.
He was one of 16 members of the South marching band drum line practicing under the direction of Assistant Band Director Raul Liendo, percussion specialist.
This was all in preparation for next week when they’ll join other band members outside to practice the fundamentals of marching.
The drummers appeared at once transfixed on the “tat-tat-tat” of a metronome, working to bring their skill in line with perfect timing.
“Right now they are warming up,” Liendo said, adding the students had begun practicing at 9 a.m. and would continue until 4:30 p.m. with a break for lunch.
“This is their first chance for them to be performing as a full ensemble,” he said.
Down the hall, another 12 musicians were practicing their talent on the xylophones, marimbas and vibraphones.
“It’s going really well,” Liendo said. “We have been having great attendance. This year we have about seven freshmen. It’s a good group of freshmen.”
The students are spending the entire week practicing for the coming season. Last week, woodwinds had their own camp and before that the brass section was practicing. It seems the entire band has taken turns preparing for the new season.
“We’re just getting up early and practicing,” said Alexander, a veteran band member who is new to the drum line — and proudly so.
“We’re the battery,” he said with authority. “We are the backbone of the band.”
Rachel Hood, who plays marimba, also expressed enthusiasm about the coming year and the challenging new music.
“I have four mallets,” said Rachel, 16. “That’s a lot more skill. I think it’s more upbeat.”
Fellow marimba player Alorah Hitchcock expressed admiration of the incoming freshmen.
“I am a junior,” said Alorah, 16. “The freshmen are just really talented. It’s really hard when you come from middle school to high school. The music is much more complicated. I feel they are doing well.”
Liendo said one of the challenges facing the drummers is building their upper body strength.
“It’s been a real challenge because they have to get acquainted with physically carrying the instrument,” he said.
