Whiz Kid: Sheila Kennedy

Sheila Kennedy, a senior at Danbury High School, is in her third year of Band but her first year as Drum Major, which is the band's conductor. Kennedy takes the whole business very seriously, and it is clear that having so much responsibility has molded her into a mature and sensitive young woman. Here she talks about what Band means to her, and how it has changed her life.

 “The main thing I do is keep the band tempo, but there's more to it,” Kennedy said. “I also have to keep the peace, and help the freshman learn everything. I marched for two years so I know what it's like to be new.”

 Kennedy continued, “Personally, Band is important to me because I like being part of a group. I see those 50 or so people all the time. I couldn't imagine not having something like this in a school of 3000 kids.”

“On the field, I try to have the song in my head and when the drums are playing, I stay with them. The louder the song, the more my arms have to move, the quieter, the less my arms have to move. I have to interpret the music with my arms.”

 Music teacher and Director of Band Paul Riley commented, “The further back on the field they are, there is a delay in when you hear the music.”

 When they are out on the field, Kennedy has some help from Ritta Hanna, the Assistant Drum Major, who shares the same responsibility to lead the band in keeping the tempo. “Especially when we are outside,” Kennedy said, “We face each other and... “

 “...We have to match each other,” Hanna said.

 “And if I listen to the band, I will slow down,” Kennedy added.

 Describing the difference in their roles, Ritta said, “ She has a little more responsibility than I do.” 

However, Sheila acknowledged Ritta's contributions, and said, “She helps me a lot. We have a lot of responsibility to these people.”

 In competitions, the Drum Majors are judge by their skills. “On our leadership skills,” Sheila said. “It's brought out leadership skills I never knew I had. I didn't know how I was going to respond to all this responsibility. It has helped me learn time management. I like being the drum major. It's very intense.”

 Like all people who spend a lot of time together, their sentences braid together and the thoughts of two people come out almost as cohesively as if they had come from one mind. Sheila said, “When they told me that Ritta was going to be the assistant, I was like, Oh, I think I know who she is.”

“...and now we're really good friends,” Ritta said.

“Marching band is not a sport, it's an art. It's like dancers and ballet and orchestra all come together,” Sheila said.

“Wow,” Ritta said, obviously impressed. “You must have been thinking about that for long time.”