Percussion workshops held at Milpitas High

The Front Ensemble workshop at MHS

 Christopher Swan and Phoebe Chou, the percussion instructors for the Milpitas High School Band, hold weekly percussion workshops after school on Wednesdays from 2:00 to 5 PM. The Front Ensemble (pit) sessions are from 2 to 3:30, and the Drumline sessions are from 3:30 to 5. The workshops are open to those who aspire to join the Marching Band percussion sections.

The snare drummers work with Christopher Swan.

Swan runs the Drumline workshops to prepare students for the marching band season and the school rallies. Generally, students must attend the workshops to play in rallies, but sixth period percussion students can also participate.
"I want to see if people improve and have the mental capacity to go through the audition piece and the marching season," said Swan. "I hope that we will grow and get more people interested in percussion. These workshops are important for the section as a whole." He plans to march five bass drums, four snares, and two tenor drums for next year's season.

Phoebe Chou works with sophomore Christian Quiocho.

Chou wants her Front Ensemble section to take her more seriously and have more confidence in themselves. "Whenever I bring them something new, they think, 'no, I'm not going to be able to do all this.' I want to give them an idea of what the season will be like, prepare them, and bring them to higher level. They have high potential, so if I was here to help them with it, they can be a lot better. I want to give them a sense of responsibility and have them think, 'if I can't get my part, I need to practice.' Marching Band is a class, and you wouldn't say 'Oh, I can't do my English homework, so I won't do it.' Homework is practicing." Chou added that she was a new instructor this year, and brought in a different teaching style from the Blue Devils drum corps.  

Center: Jeremiah Ruperto on snare drum, with 7th grader
Jason Broyles (left).  

Jeremiah Ruperto, a sophomore who marched bass drum this year, is trying out for either snare or bass drum next year. "The workshops point me in the right direction," he said. "Swan points out what I'm doing wrong and teaches me the right techniques. He picks on small things like timing, and he's a good instructor. It's hella awesome playing with the whole group. We're all friends."