Marching percussion

After completing my first semester at Ohio State, I can already tell I am part of something very special. Granted, when I was accepted and when I made my decision to attend, I started to get the feeling that this would be the case. Growing up, I didn’t really think that this would be my case or story, but looking back on it, I am so happy it is. I was born in 1998 in Toledo, Ohio. Toledo as always been the place I call home, and I have spent most of my time in Ohio as well. I know the…

Whenever someone has free time they usually find something fun to do. As for myself, I found that audio engineering; lighting and special effects design, playing and learning about percussion instruments, and anything electronic or technical related are great things to play around with. When I was a little kid, I always played with different toys of mine that either ran on batteries, or that plugged into an electrical socket and/or took my toys apart so see how they worked. So, from that moment…

On October 1, 2016, I attended Tabernaculo de Dios Filadelphia (Spanish Pentecostal church) special service that can be considered a mini concert. This concert took place in a small church pastored by two elderlies named Angel & Esther Carrasquillo. Pastors Carasquillos are not only pastors but their first ministry back in Puerto Rico was music. They’ve been in the music ministry since they were 15 years old and they are now in their late seventies so they have quite the knowledge and experience…

Before my meeting, I prepared five questions for my music history professor. I was aware prior she was a performing percussionist and I’ve noticed her passion for music and teaching throughout the month that I’ve attended her class. I based the majority of my five questions on this knowledge and subsequently recorded her responses with my phone. The first of those five being, when did you realize that music held significance in your life? Her response was, “music has been a part of my life for…

Eight marching drums menacingly stand surrounded by the dim light of flickering fluorescent bulbs dangling above. The new recruits enter the room and slowly walk to their respective drum—their new homes for the next hours. All members stand with wide eyes and unstable posture. They nervously wait for the tech’s commands. The room encompassed in a seemingly endless silence. The tech sounded off and the new drumline members stepped off in perfect time and began the never ending, never moving…

all over the world for over thousands of years. Percussion and drums can be defined as an instrument that must be hit with a mallet or shaken to make a sound. The surface can be made of animal hide, wood, metal, or really anything that produces sound. The mallet is used to produce the sound that includes a human hand. Drums include a variety of instruments that make similar sounds to a piano such as a xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, etc. Percussion instruments that must be shaken are mostly…

This piece was performed by the Orchestra. Moreover, it started of soft (piano) with the string family and percussion family as well. The piece was more relaxing, smooth and really good to hear. It does get louder as the piece goes on. This piece was short, however it was a beautiful tune to listen to. It was not fast but it was vivace and adagio. From the way…

I along with 8 other of my classmates were able to go and visit Hillcrest Elementary School in Enterprise, Alabama. The purpose of observing Hillcrest was to observe elementary school physical education. Most people think that physical education teachers are not ver important in the school system. Most think they just let their students run around and play. When observing Mrs. Weeks who was the head physical education teacher nothing of the sort came into play. She incorporates classroom rules,…

In the 1800s young boys did not have a very long childhood. At a certain age they would be sent off to war to fight for their country and people. In this story I will tell about a drummer boy on the night before the “Battle of Shiloh”. It was on April 6, 1862 near a church. More than 23,000 soldiers died those two days. In the story a moth brushed across his face but it was a blossom, it symbolised that the boys can shave their faces meaning that if they couldn't fell the blossoms then their…

for me. Just as my eyes were closing, the drums became dissonance. The music then returned to a slow pace. By the end of the performance, all the sounds were running together in my head. I could not tell the difference between horns, violins or percussions. All in all, the concert was a great experience. Would I have gone if it were not for an assignment? Probably not. Will I go back on my own enjoyment? Probably not unless it is an opera. I would love to experience that. This was something…