Wolfs Percussion

Now that the parent preview show has finished, I can finally publicly express how unbelievably elated I am that WE HAVE NEW DRUMS at

So many people to thank for making this happen and alleviating the stress I have endured the past 3 years trying to get those old drums to not sound like boxes due to how poor of a condition they were in.

Thank you The Best Boss Ever for spoiling me and being willing to get me so many nice new toys 🤣 (and there's hopefully more to come soon 👀) I and the kids are so incredibly grateful to have a band director who cares so much about the percussion section and is willing to invest in giving us what we need to succeed. (Also thanks Jon for helping secure the grant that covered half of the retrofit)

Thanks to Reidling and Gibson for being willing to slide us some of their portion of the fine arts funding for this school year so we could cover the rest of the cost. We work with some nice people.

Shoutout to for working with us on getting these gorgeous and wonderful sounding Championship drums, stands and cases. When I found out we were getting new drums and was asked what I wanted there really was only one option. Pearl has never let me down, and I think it's safe to say that trend will not change now.

Also, thanks to for these sick drum wraps. The kids love them so it was definitely worth the work of putting them on 🤣

Glad to be playing on heads this season. The Black Max/Falams ii combo is *chefs kiss* for the snares. I've been on the Powermax 2 bandwagon for over a decade and it would take a miracle to convince me to try any other marching bass heads because these are perfection. And I'm loving the clarity and projection we get from the Clear Pinstripe Quads heads.

I'm so excited to have these drums. The kids are excited as well. Ya'll gotta come see us live this year to hear these beauties for yourself (parting myself on the back for how incredibly well tuned these snares are lol).

What a season, man.

I'm so incredibly proud of these kids. From day 1 of percussion camp, I felt there was something special happening here. Things were clicking in a way they hadn't - or sooner than - the past 2 years. Not just playing-wise, either. This section just felt different.

I remember the first football game and the run they had and thinking to myself "ya know...we just might be on to something this year". And, sure enough, we were.

First comp, we had an okay run. Wasn't our best, but the kids pulled it out and we won Class A while finishing 7th Overall.
I remember telling the kids afterwards that I was happy but "just imagine what we could do if we put our best out there?"
And we found out a few weeks later at comp 2. Kids had a *phenomenal* run. We were up against some SOLID lines, and managed to take 2nd in Class AA and finished 3rd OVERALL (been a few years since I've had a top 3 overall placement).
Last night, though? Last night was special. The week started off shaky, but the kids turned it on at rehearsal Thursday and I knew they were ready to finish strong. The run at the game Friday night was one of the best we've had all season and I was so psyched for what would happen Saturday. They didn't disappoint, either. It wasn't the best run we've had all season, but it was definitely one of them. I think we all felt it coming off the field. And they were rewarded for it. 1st place in Class A and 2nd OVERALL (BY ONE FREAKING POINT AT THAT).

3 Shows. 5 Trophies. And so many compliments from other percussion directors and band directors who told me how much they loved my kids playing and my writing

I'm so pleased with this season. Not just because of the trophies and placements. Validating as the physical rewards and high numbers are, the musical growth these young people showed from July to Now? That's what makes me the happiest. The support they showed one another (and me)? That's what matters.

I love these kids. I love this job. I'm so incredibly proud of EVERYONE here with the Green Team, but I'm especially proud of this Drumline. Where these kids were 3 years ago and where they are now is astronomically different. As people and as musicians.

It's the first week in June and I'm already done with 2 shows, on the final movement for 4, and on the third of four movements for 1.

I've never written this fast in my entire life lmao.

I'm...kinda pleased by the progress we're making with the percussion ensemble music so far this semester. Three rehearsals in, haven't spent any class time on the music (yet). For them to be where they are with the lit right now (today we did a full run of 1 piece, made it half through our most difficult piece and half through another) is pretty great to see. Kids are just grinding their butts off on their own and it's showing. Hopefully this keeps up for the entire semester.