The booming rattle of snare drums and the crash of cymbals echoed down Main Street on June 28 as the St. Clair school drumline took center stage. Serving as one of the opening attractions of the annual St. Clair Days parade, the 15-member ensemble drew roaring applause from local supporters, culminating a whirlwind week of intense preparation.
Just three days prior, on June 25, the band room was transformed into an energetic “spat camp” designed to sharpen the musicians’ physical and mental focus before their big summer performance.
This summer marks only the second year of the St. Clair drumline’s existence, but the program is already experiencing a massive surge in popularity. This year, the line grew to 15 members—an increase of five students from its inaugural season.
“We actually had to turn students away this year,” said Band Director Rebecca Carpenter, who expressed thrill at how quickly participation has surged.
To accommodate the growing interest, the program expanded its instrument lineup, introducing marching mallets to the ensemble. The growth has been a true community effort: the St. Clair PTO purchased the drumline’s performance shirts last spring (which were repurposed for this year’s run), while the community organization GIFTS funded the newly added mallets.
The roster features a healthy mix of seasoned veterans donning the drums once more and new faces stepping up to the challenge, including several eager eighth graders—though their stage fright of a public performance kept them from marching.
The road to St. Clair Days may have begun back on May 21 during the group’s first rehearsal, but it was the June 25 spat camp that served as the ultimate trial by fire.
Michelle Roche, the local instructor who arranged the music and served as the camp’s “drill sergeant,” commanded the room with a military cadence.
“Atten-hut!” Roche barked, prompting the young musicians to instantly snap to attention.
Inside the band room, ear protection was an absolute necessity as the billowing echoes of drums and bells bounced off the walls. To rebuild muscle memory and refresh their minds, the drumline kicked off rehearsals at half-tempo, using snare players Henry Topp and Henry Dauk to keep a steady tempo check.
As the morning progressed, the group simulated marching in place during their “Intro” piece. Cymbal players Janessa Carstensen and Juliana Rasmussen served as visual and auditory anchors, drawing focus with a series of high-hat movements, dramatic cymbal waves, and perfectly synchronized crashes to mark the song’s conclusion.
Pacing and complexity ramped up during “Trips,” a heavy, sensory-rich piece featuring traditional drumrolls, playful “stick-to-side” clacking, and a dramatic, booming crescendo. Throughout the piece, Vincent Bowes kept a bright, rhythmic call-and-response on the Glockenspiel (bells) against the heavy percussion.
The true crown jewel of this year’s repertoire is “Jabberwock.”
Roche adapted the drumline arrangement from John Willmart’s percussion ensemble piece, “Beware the Jabberwock.” Many of these drumline participants performed the original version during this year’s Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) contest, earning a prestigious Superior rating.
While the drumline adaptation of “Jabberwock” features thunderous percussion, it is the whimsical, almost playful melody of the bells that catches the listener’s ear, capturing the mythical nature of the legendary beast.
By the afternoon of camp, the group ran through their full four-song program—composed of “16 B,” “Intro,” “Trips,” and “Jabberwock”—in consecutive, seamless runs. While there were minor missteps here and there, the atmosphere remained encouraging, filled with smiles, chuckles, and collaborative problem-solving. Following a short break to refuel, the drumline left the band room to practice marching outside. Locals were treated to the sound of drums and bells ringing throughout the nearby streets as the musicians continued to execute their four-piece set while simultaneously keeping pace with the beat.
Their hard work paid off on June 28. As the St. Clair drumline marched down the parade route, their presence was undeniable. During the grand finale of “Jabberwock,” several young children in the crowd were spotted enthusiastically mimicking the bombastic movements of the bass drummers.
Though the drumline is still in its infancy, the dedication of its 15 members proved that passion and community support can easily outweigh inexperience—even if, as the directors noted with a smile, their feet aren’t always perfectly aligned to the beat. The community won’t have to wait until next summer to hear them again. The drumline is currently brainstorming a performance for the school’s upcoming fall Homecoming festivities and is already scheduled to lead the annual Third Grade Thanksgiving Parade for Mrs. Jeddeloh’s class next autumn.
