Senior, Olivia Taft, who has spent the majority of her childhood walking in with the AHS Marching Band, is now on her second year of leading the band as a Drum Major.
Last week, August 23rd at Ridgeland High School, the AHS football team had their first game of the season and for the band their first halftime performance. Olivia said, “ It was calm, but a lot more nerve-racking than the scrimmage game we had played against Model.” She said that it was not because it was the first game, but because it was the band’s first time actually marching the show without a metronome and in front of an audience. The band had marched one movement for the first game, but for the next upcoming game on August 30th, the band had marched two movements. Olivia said “ We’ve never had more than one movement on the field this early in the season” and she thanks Mr. Chasteen, the new band director, for this. In her opinion, Mr. Chasteen is helping our band set out for success by introducing new techniques and more up-to-date technology. For example, the AHS band is now miked and has a guitar added to the show.
The marching band has practice after school from 3:00 pm-6:00 pm every Thursday and Tuesday, practice for 50 minutes during the school day, then they spend over 4 or 5 hours with the band on game days. Typically the marching band members spend no less than 13 hours a week alongside the band, an outstanding amount already, but Olivia feels as though she spends more than 100 a week with the band. She said, “There is a lot that goes into being a drum major that people don’t even notice or realize. I do things every day for the band. Both during and after school.” She attends meetings, cleans, helps set up fundraisers, and helps plan for the invitational. Even the summer Olivia and Mia, the head drum major, spent time learning how to conduct the halftime show. Before band camp, a two week during the time period that all marching band members are required to attend, the drum majors have a separate camp that they attend: UGA drum major camp. Olivia said, ”The camp gave me and Mia some bonding experience, and helped us see how well our conducting styles matched while we learned different ways to conduct the band.”
The bulk of Olivia’s time is spent on the band. She does have some free time. She said, “ I read and hangout with my friends who are also band members.” On top of all of this, she still has an academic life to balance. She said, “ It’s so hard. I take mostly honors and AP classes, which take up a lot more time than typical classes. Learning how to conduct a show while also having to study for a big test on the same night is difficult, but typically I spend 30 minutes on conducting, 30 on studying, and 30 minutes playing my instrument. It’s exhausting trying to juggle both academics and extra-curricular activities but it’s fun, so it’s fine.”
Maggie Early, a past drum major from AHS and now part of the Blue Devil’s marching band, is who Olivia credits for driving her to her position as a drum major. Olivia said, “I’ve really looked up to Maggie. She’s the one who got me to go to camp and taught me how to conduct.” Olivia’s older sister was in the band and her mother was heavily involved by being part of the band boosters club, so she really did grow up around the band.
Becoming drum major acted as nothing more than a title for Olivia for she had already devoted her high school career to the marching band. This year would be her last year with the AHS marching band and with it being her last, she strives to make a lasting impact on the younger generation in the band, just as Maggie has had on her.
