Hillgrove Drumline shared our school spirit and energy with thousands at the Atlanta Falcons game this past Sunday. Hillgrove Drumline was selected to play at the Falcons game after they sent a video for consideration. This is not the first time they have been selected to play at the game -- they also submitted a video and were accepted to perform over two years ago. They played at the Falcons game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, a game which the Falcons won 33 - 32.
A drumline consists of several separate types of drums. Included in a drumline are snare drums, bass drums, and tenor drums (also referred to as Quads, on account of the fact that the instrument is an arrangement of four drums around a player). Drumlines are part of the regular Marching Band, but are also an autonomous group that can practice and perform separate pieces from the rest of the band. Drumline marches on the field as they play in carefully choreographed movements, whether they are playing with a band or as a solo group. These movements are made much more difficult by the heavy instruments the musicians wear strapped to their bodies. Drumline music regularly consists of loud, fast, and intricately arranged rhythms notable for their intense energy. Consequently, they are used to drum up pep (pardon the pun) because of this energy. Greg Hearn (11) is a bass drummer in the drumline who has been playing bass drum since 6th grade and has been part of the Drumline for one year. “When it comes to bass, we are five individual drums and drummers who need to sound in sync and crisp, as if we were one huge bass drum.” Tobias Haymes (11) is another drummer in the drumline. Haymes plays Quad drums. “The Quad line’s responsibility is to complement the snare drums. We play in time with the snares and add depth to their sound with our four drums. Each drum has a separate pitch, which adds color to the sound. When we perform, it is imperative that we have to play clean and together.” In drumline, it's all about rhythm and energy.
“I was proud of our performance.” says Hearn. “It was actually quite awesome. A lot of people showed up to watch our performance, and it ended up being very fun.” Haymes is also proud of the performance, and explains “it was fun because it was not like anything we get to do in high school.”
Hearn says they performed pregame outside the Georgia Dome. “We played directly outside the Georgia Dome in a field. We had a stage behind us and a large audience in front of us.” Haymes adds, “it was sunny outside, and surrounding us were tailgate parties. A DJ with a microphone led the performance and told us what to play and when.” Despite the audience, Hearn says he felt no pressure. “For me, it was just like a regular performance.” Haymes says “ we were there simply to hype people up. They did not judge us, they just felt our energy.” Both Hearn and Haymes said they would perform pregame again. “Only next time,” Hearn says, “ I would want to be in the halftime performance as well. Only the top two Drumlines perform at halftime, and I would like to set qualifying for the halftime performance as a goal for next year.”
The Falcons pregame performance was the first time Drumline has performed in public without the rest of the band. As part of the band they recently placed 10th out of 12 finalists at the Bands of America competition. In the words of Greg Hearn, “Drumline is a group of fantastic drummers who care deeply about drumming.”