SCAD Drumline brings the beat back
By Katelan Cunningham
The SCAD Drumline lined up on the Dyson field as the opening act for Fall Fest. Three students on snares, four basses and one on the tenor set, all wore matching khakis and black polos.
It was their first performance, but none of them looked nervous as the crowd welcomed them with applause. For junior architecture student David Trayte, this moment was a year in the making.
Last fall quarter, Trayte pitched his idea for a drumline to President Wallace in the President’s online chat. In the late 90s, SCAD student Matthew Ward started a drumline, but when he graduated in 1999, the club ceased.
“She said she would give us the money,” Trayte said.
But there were still many steps left to making his idea materialize into a club.
Luckily, getting a faculty adviser was not too hard. Chris Dykeman showed immediate interest in the idea.
“I was in drumline when I was in undergrad,” Dykeman said.
Trayte then got together with senior graphic design major Kyle Read and held an interest meeting at the end of fall quarter for students with or without experience. As an official club in winter quarter, the drumline held auditions.
“We worked for quality before quantity,” Trayte said.
Even though only eight students are on drums, Trayte said, “Jobs would be made for whoever would be [in the club].”
Trayte got in contact with Purdue University about borrowing some of their extra drums. Unfortunately, getting the drums to Savannah took six months. The drums came in only a week before Fall Fest.
The members of the club came back before fall quarter for rehearsal, even without drums.
“We’d sit in a big circle with practice pads. We were working for technique and music,” Trayte said.
Everyone on the drums played in high school. “We got back into it pretty quickly,” Trayte said.
To maintain their funds, the club must show they are serious about their commitment.
“They showed their dedication,” Dykeman said.
The drumline proved they can pump up a crowd at Fall Fest when they pulsed with their toes tapping. The field erupted when the bass players swung their basses around in sync.
This is the only music-oriented club at SCAD.
“We would like to work in the SCAD community as well as Savannah,” Trayte said.
With many gigs lined up already, the SCAD drumline continues to practice and perform. Here’s where you can see them:
September 27
Men’s soccer vs. Warner University
SCAD Athletic Fields
3 p.m.
October 3
Men’s soccer v. Truett-McConnell
SCAD Athletic Fields
1 p.m.
October 4
Men’s soccer v. Milligan College
SCAD Athletic Fields
3 p.m.
October 18
Men’s soccer v. Johnson & Wales University
SCAD Athletic Fields
2 p.m.
October 25
Men’s soccer v. Northwood University
SCAD Athletic Fields
3 p.m.
