By Chris Kielman

CSU-Pueblo’s drumline is back for its second year and has room on its team for several students who have musical experience with percussion.

“The drumline came about while starting to build all the components of the marching band,” said Alan Mills, the director of bands at CSU-Pueblo. “The marching band consists of many parts and the drumline is one of those important facets to marching band.”

The drumline has room for more musicians on top of the musicians currently on the line, Mills said. There are five bass drummers, seven snare drummers, four quint and five cymbal players, he said. Also, the drumline consists of a front ensemble which includes mallet and auxiliary percussion which can be as large as 15 musicians, Mills said.

Currently, the drumline is looking for an electric bass and electric guitar player, a synthesizer and drummers.

CSU-Pueblo’s drumline has performed in exhibitions, in Littleton and Grand Junction, and played for five high schools in southeast Colorado last year. This year, they have performed at ThunderWolves basketball games and will continue to do so for the remainder of the home games, according to their schedule.

“We’re really emphasizing the music education program and what we have to offer at CSU-Pueblo,” Mills said. “We want students to know they can come get an education degree to teach music and band. In addition to athletics, marching band and drumline put another appealing face of the university out there for incoming students to consider.”

Drumline gives students majoring in music education more training, which will enable them to successfully teach high school students once they graduate, Mills said. It can also help students to polish and refine their skills to prepare them for marching band in the fall, he said.

In addition to Mills, the drumline also is being directed by Eddie Dowdle, drumline coach and music composer. Other than Mills and Dowdle, students are responsible for their own success of the drumline and are appointed section leaders. Some students also conduct performances.

 “Drumline is run in such a way that it is more student oriented, and they are only directed and taught for a certain amount of time,” Mills said. “Then they must take it upon themselves to create the final product.”

One of drumline’s upcoming performances, “Southern Colorado Day of Percussion,” will take place March 5, at Adams State College.

 Another performance “Wind Ensemble, Drumline and Percussion Ensemble,” will take place at 7:30 p.m., April 22 in the Capps Capozzolo Academic Center for the Arts, for the purposes of recruiting high school students.

Drumline rehearsals take place at 6 p.m., Mondays and rehearsals are open to students interested in joining. To learn more contact Mills at [email protected].