UNFORESEEN EVENTS  –  Part II

Ethan practiced on his drums every day. In the basement room of his home he would play records and accompany the music. His parents had asked around about drumming teachers but there were none to be found. They encouraged him to just stick with it and to keep doing what felt right to him. At first he learned how physical it was to play the drums. With both feet and both arms in constant motion he would tire out after less than an hour of practice. But like an athlete in training he became stronger and his endurance grew as the days and weeks went by. 

Within a few months Ethan could play for well over three hours without a break. However he struggled with a mechanical sense of having to mentally control his hands and feet as he batted out the rhythms. It was arduous and he grew evermore dismayed with this aspect of his drumming. 

Towards the end of summer Ethan went down to the basement one afternoon to begin a practice session. Looking through the family record collection he spotted an album he hadn’t seen before. The title of the album was “Drum Paradise”. 

“Wow,” he thought. “This looks interesting.”

He put the disc on the phonograph and started the first song. It was a small jazz band with musical energy like he’d not heard before. The jazz was sophisticated and the drumming was elegant. He stood and listened for the longest time before sitting down at his drums to try to play along. 

The next song began and he started playing. As was his habit he focused on the mechanical aspects of his drumming. But this song was alive with music and rhythm and halfway through the piece Ethan felt a surge of energy pass through his body. It was as if the drums were playing themselves and he was holding on to the drumsticks as though they were the reins of a wild horse. Suddenly he wasn’t trying to play the drums. Like someone possessed he felt like he’d become part of the drums, not knowing where he ended and where the drums began. In those moments something awoke within Ethan that he had never felt before and would never leave him again.

In September Ethan began the 7th grade, attending a new junior high school. At his parents suggestion he tried out for the school orchestra. Miss Mary Marlowe was the music teacher and conductor of the school’s orchestra and band. His audition consisted of playing various exercises on a snare drum. At Miss Marlowe’s request he played certain drumming exercises including paradiddles, rim shots and drum rolls. At the end he tapped out a jazz rhythm he’d been working on, much to the delight of the teacher.

“You’re hired,” said Miss Marlowe. “I’ll have you assigned to the school orchestra class today. We meet in the mornings in first period, right after homeroom. You’ll start with us next Monday.”

The orchestra met in the campus band hall, a detached, two thousand square foot building with a twelve foot ceiling. It had acoustical tiling on all the interior surfaces with industrial grade carpet on the floor. Along one side of the structure were three small practice rooms and Miss Marlowe’s office. 

It was the Monday of the second week of school when Ethan arrived at the band hall. He was ten minutes late for his first day of practice. Thirty-five other student musicians were already rehearsing a piece. Upon entering the building he was stunned at the sight of all the musicians. This was a new experience for him. The room fell silent. Seeing Miss Marlowe on the podium, he said, “Sorry I’m late ma’am, I thought the band room was at the other end of the campus.”

“That’s OK, Ethan,” said Miss Marlowe, looking a bit miffed. “Go ahead to the percussion section.”

Ethan looked puzzled.

“At the back of the room,” she said.

With everybody watching, Ethan walked around the edge of the orchestra to the percussion area. There were already two other drummers standing behind the instruments. Jack Maisner was an 8th grader and Mick Taylor was in the 9th grade. They both nodded at Ethan when he walked up to them.

“People, this is our new drummer, Ethan Wells,” said Miss Marlowe.

“Hi Ethan,” said everyone in unison. Ethan smiled and waved back.

“Alright,” said Miss Marlowe. “Let’s pick it up at bar sixteen. Ethan, just stand and observe for now. Jack and Mick will help you get up to speed.” 

She raised her baton, scanned the room and gestured the musicians to begin.

To be continued…