MetroWest Elementary has only elementary school drumline in Orange County

Drive by MetroWest Elementary on a Monday afternoon, and you might hear a booming noise. Listen closer, and you’ll hear the noise is in rhythm. 

It’s the sound of the MetroWest Elementary Drumline. 

If you think an elementary school drumline is rare, you’re right. MetroWest is the only elementary school in Orange County to boast one.

“They sound like high-school kids out there, but they’re only fourth- and fifth- graders marching drums that the average elementary kid wouldn’t be able to pick up or play,” said music teacher Chris Bell, who was a member of the FAMU Marching 100. “It’s bringing the community together; it’s putting the school on the map.”

The concept of an elementary-school drumline is not new to Bell, who is in his first year at Metro-West Elementary. He has led elementary drumlines as a teacher in other counties and wanted to introduce it to MetroWest for the first time this year. 

“They never had something like this at the school before,” Bell said. 

Although many of her peers had never touched a drum before, fourth-grader Alanii Cason had been exposed to it all her life. Her family has played drums for several generations. 

“Drumming is kind of a tradition in my family,” Cason said. “And when I saw the opportunity, I got it.”

After making the drumline and spending a few weeks in practice, Cason was appointed as drum captain. She enjoys performances, but specifically when she gets to perform at a pep rally. 

“I like pep rallies,” she said. “Pep rallies are my thing. I like to get hyped. The drumline, they’re actually doing really good, so I’m really excited to put them to that test.” 

Since the line started in September, Cason and her peers have gathered every Monday for practice. About 40 students tried out for the drumline, and Bell was given the difficult task of narrowing it down to about 20. The drummers practiced on drum pads until the PTA raised enough money to purchase the drums.

Throughout the year, the drummers learn how to read music and play different cadences. They have many opportunities to perform, both at the school and around the community.

The drumline has given Christmas performances at Chick-fil-A, the school and the MetroWest WinterFest. They play at pep rallies to get their peers excited for the Florida Standards Assessments and other tests. But the biggest experience was when the drumline played at an Orlando Magic Game. 

“A lot of them never even thought of going, had never been to a Magic game,” Bell said. “Actually being on the court performing in front of people, even though it wasn’t full.”

Playing on the drumline teaches the students lessons about leadership and teamwork, because they must work together to perform as one group. The drummers recognize that.

“It’s like a family playing together,” said Velson Seide, a fifth-grade bass drummer. 

Bell motivates the students with sayings and often posts them to the board in classroom:

Don’t practice until you get it right; practice until you can’t get it wrong.

It’s not how good you are; it’s how good you want to be.

Contact Jennifer Nesslar at [email protected]. 

SEE THEM IN ACTION

The MetroWest Elementary Drumline performs late afternoon Saturday, April 2, at the McDonald’s at the corner of International Drive and Sand Lake Road.