Niwot High School drumline kicks off another spectacular season with summer practices

As Niwot residents take their Thursday morning walk on the trails behind Niwot High School, drive by with their windows down, or sit on their porch with a cup of coffee nearby, they may notice an array of rhythmic-sounding music coming from the back side of the school.

Each Thursday morning, the dedicated members of the drumline within the NHS "Pride of Niwot" Cougar Marching Band congregate to practice for upcoming events and to get ahead before the busy school year commences in August. For over two decades, summer drumline practices have been a familiar sound to Niwotians.

With the entirety of the band program overseen by Director of Bands Wade Hendricks, Niwot alumnus Scott Barto has taken on the role of Drumline Director over the past few years. The duo works together to plan events, choose music, and direct the large number of students participating in the program.

Barto commented about the sound saying, "We did recently acquire a new, obnoxiously loud metronome speaker to help us stay in time better. That's something that can be piercingly annoying, especially if you don't know what those incessant beeps at 120bpm (beats per minute) are."

This year is especially exciting for the drumline as over half of the line is made up of ninth graders. Barto stated, "This, combined with our veteran members who have had exposure and practice in the marching band world, can spark some very creative ideas."

At the Thursday practices, the drumline tackles a myriad of musical pieces. Not only do members have to learn the music, but they are also required to memorize each cadence, warm-up, pep tune, and the halftime show piece. Unlike other band members, the drumline does not have access to flip-folders to reference their music in the stands.

Not only are these summer practices vital to the group's professional and technical development, but they are also a way in which drumline members form bonds and friendships before the season begins.

Barto said, "I've always felt that a section that trusts and knows each other outside of band and works to build that bond overall succeeds even more in their performances."

Throughout the next few months, the drumline will continue to practice each Thursday morning to ensure that they are on track for yet another fantastic season, including the halftime show performances.

For the upcoming school year, their halftime show, "Decade Dance Party," "is to engage with the audience using lively songs that not only get the crowd to sing along, but to dance as well," Barto said. "The band will be dancing on the field, that's for sure."

This show features Abba's "Dancing Queen" to honor the 1970s, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston for the 1980s, then the 2010s hit "Shut Up and Dance" by Walk The Moon, and finally Dua Lipa's "Dance the Night" featured in the 2023 movie, "Barbie."

The NHS Marching Band will be marching in the Niwot 4th of July Parade next month. For more information on the NHS Band Program or how to best support these student musicians, visit NiwotBands.org.