Cougar Marching Band Drumline

The Drumline is a unique and important element of the Cougar Marching Band consisting of four instruments: snare, tenors, bass drum, and cymbals (aka: the battery). The 2021 season was the debut of the drumline’s Front Ensemble (aka: the pit). As a whole, the drumline brings intensity and excitement to the already energetic marching band through means of cadences* and zesty beats, plus the rhythm/melodies of the pit instrumentation.

Expectations

  • Weekly sectionals are held throughout the Summer, Fall, and Spring to keep students constantly growing as musicians and as a team. Specific details on Communication, Respect, Responsibility, Attendance & Arrival, and Attitude can be found here: NHS Drumline Handbook

Auditions

  • Location: NHS Band Room

  • Any 8th-11th graders interested in participating for the upcoming Fall season are encouraged to attend 1-2 workshops in the Spring. This is the best opportunity for students to meet people, get introduced to instrumentation possibilities (Snare, Tenors, Bass, Cymbals), and receive instruction on playing techniques & warm-ups.

  • Auditions will be held 2-3 weeks later. This is where students will demonstrate their individual growth on their preferred instrument(s), work in a group setting, and take instruction/ feedback.

  • The Front Ensemble (Pit) consists of mallet instruments & auxiliary equipment and operates as a subset of the drumline. Auditions are dependent on instrumentation requirements for the battery, but will consist of a variety of scales, technique, and potential selection of music as well as ability to show growth & take feedback.

Front Ensemble Plays a Quick Transition Between Halftime Show Songs

Leadership

  • Drumline Captain(s) work to incorporate camaraderie between members, organize events, and orchestrate communication within the section. The captain(s) must be responsible for setting the example for all students by knowing their music, demonstrating proper conduct, having clean marching & playing technique, and knowing the general operations of the section.

  • Applications for Drum Captain(s) will be accessible to current members in the Spring Semester and will incorporate an interview with the Director(s) and Technician(s).

Headshot of the Niwot Cougar Marching Band Drumline Instructor.

Scott Barto

Mr. Barto has been the Drumline Instructor at Niwot High School off and on since 2017 and officially became the Head Drumline Instructor in 2020. He is an alumnus of NHS and marched with the Cougar Drumline for 4 years then went on to the University of Colorado where he marched with the “Golden Buffalo” Marching Band for another 5 years before graduating and was a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi (KKΨ), the National, Co-Ed, Band Fraternity. Outside of drumline, Mr. Barto enjoys reading, skiing, camping, cycling, Lego, and comics. In the Spring of 2022, he also participated in the Disney College Program in Florida for 5 months.

His teaching style emphasizes applying lessons learned from drumline/band and their relevance to other aspects of life while fostering a fun environment for students to feel welcome.

*Cadence: A short song/groove that brings extra excitement to the crowd and provides a short break for wind instrumentalists.

"Jump" was originally written in 1996 by Pete Ehrmann for Niwot High School, but after the sheet music was lost it was passed along for many years by ear and went through various changes/evolutions without official sheet music to reference. In 2014, the senior drum captain, Daniel Wilcox transcribed it close to how it is played today, but other new elements have been added by Mr. Barto & years of NHS Drummers. The marching band's choreography was added in the early 2010s by the color guard captains at the time to bring even more energy to the cadence.

"Maximus" has also been a staple of the Niwot High School Drumline since the mid-2000s, and underwent minor rewrites in 2020 to make it more energetic with a beefy bass line. In 2022 when Niwot held their first football game at Niwot High School, the drumline prepared the combined version of the two cadences to play as an extended parade cadence for moving the band from one location to another with a lot of energy and style.

Cougar Marching Band Drumline Plays “Jump-Maximus”

  • NHS Drumline Battery and Front Ensemble on the football field.
  • Drumline marching on to the football field.
  • Drumline in the bleachers playing pep band tunes.
  • Two snare drum players rehearsing.
  • The drumline at the Band Camp party.
  • Drumline members dressed as characters from Despicable Me for the Longmont Halloween Parade.
  • Niwot High School Marching Cougars Drumline dressed up as ghosts, skeletons and pumpkins for the Longmont Halloween Parade.
  • Front Ensemble aka "Pit" members wearing drumline t-shirts.
  • Front Ensemble members being silly.
  • Drumline members and Drumline Instructor posing on the football field.
  • Drumline members wearing tiaras and posing with their awards at the band banquet.
  • Selfie of drumline members wearing tiaras at the band banquet.
“We are the heart, and the soul. Without the percussion section, the band doesn’t move, doesn’t come alive. We are the pulse. And without a pulse, you’re dead….”
— Movie “Drumline” 2002