Saint Martin's drum line class helps students beat the heat

By Venice Buhain | The Olympian • Published July 06, 2008

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LACEY – For two weeks at Saint Martin's University, young musicians from around South Sound have been walking into Kreielsheimer Hall with their instruments — including flutes, saxophones and five-gallon buckets.

The musicians studying how to beat the 5-gallon bucket under the guidance of drummer Darlene Jones took it just as seriously as those with other instruments.

"I wanted to expand my knowledge," said Marelle McNary-Anderson, 14, who commutes from Hoquiam. Marelle's instruments include the bassoon, piccolo, trumpet and piano, along with the bucket. "I learned a lot about timing and how to count (beats) a lot more."

"I like drumming," said Quinn Mau, 12, a Washington Middle School student. "It's good experience, and it helps me with rhythm when I'm playing guitar."

The drum line has been part of the Saint Martin's University Summer Music Camp for three years, camp program director Krina Allison said. The camp also offers classes such as choir, different levels of band, composition and a new class that creates instruments.

"It's not just about honing their skills at instruments they already play. They are wanting to try out something different," Allison said.

Jones said she thinks her drummers took the drumline class for the teamwork and the challenge of staying on the beat with other drummers.

Some of the plastic buckets are marked with logos of local hardware stores.

Marelle said drum line has helped the way she plays other instruments.

"I can observe what else is going on in the music, because I know the different parts," she said.

As the advanced drum line prepared the song, "Stinkin' Garbage," originally written for garbage can, Jones, who has been playing drums since she was 13 and is on the Seahawks Blue Thunder drum team, also taught the budding drummers about showmanship — teaching them to how to flip their sticks while keeping rhythm.

Jones said she thinks that every child should get a sense of rhythm and learn the drums, even if they later choose to play a different style of instrument.

"All you need is a pair of sticks," Jones said. "When I first started drumming, I made my first drum set out of ice cream tubs from Baskin-Robbins."

Venice Buhain covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5445 or vbuhain@theolympian.com.