After many long hours of rehearsal and fine tuning, the indoor drumline kicked off its 2025 competition season in February. They scored first place at the North Texas Colorguard Association (NTCA) competition, marking a successful start to their indoor competition season.
“We placed third at the first competition, and we won the second one,” senior drumline captain Graham Longhofer said.
Two years ago, the band acquired a new percussion director, Quyian Murphy. Since the band started competing in indoor drumline, the team has seen major improvements under Murphy’s direction.
“We have really experienced staff. I think it’s really the directors because they’ve been doing indoor for like, 18 years, and so they just know kind of the ins and outs,” Longhofer said. “They came from a really successful program at another high school, and we’re new to it, but they really know what they’re doing.”
The way Murphy teaches the drumline is different from past instructors. Students describe him as more engaging, and emphasize how he presents concepts with clarity.
“The way that he approaches all the visual stuff is really effective, and makes it pretty easy to understand, and it caters well to the group,” Longhofer said. “He also leaves some stuff up to the students which is good too. He sets high expectations for everyone.
Indoor drumline practices three days a week for two and a half hours each practice day. Many members’ time commitment to work on their technique is outside of practice too. The devotion of the team is a major contributor to what helped them win NTCA.
“Confidence and a lot of hard work from everyone in the ensemble, making sure that they worked on what they needed to work on [helped us win],” freshman drumline member Norah Prewitt said.
Murphy’s history with indoor drumline goes back 44 years total of either playing or teaching. He feels passionate about it because it makes the students feel confident and empowered when it goes well.
“I like it when all the elements come together, the students have their light bulb moment on the floor and they’re performing and enjoying it, and they feel like rock stars.” Murphy said. “They think this is the greatest thing I’ve ever done.”
In indoor drumlines the visual element is crucial in the overall effect of a performance. This year, the drumline decided to get special costumes to aid in these visuals.
“We stepped up our game with our costuming.” Murphy said. “We took the time to get the right costume, it’s custom made. Halfway through the show, part comes off, and then they reveal another layer of the costume underneath.”
In addition to the costuming, Murphy explains that the bond of the drumline is both special and instrumental to their success.
“If you have good teammates, are able to get along, and the team chemistry is correct, you can do anything,” Murphy said.
The members of drumline themselves say they are more than just teammates: they are friends. Though the drumline has high expectations for itself and their performances, the sense of community in the drumline is equally important.
“There’s a lot of bonding within the drum line. We all hang out together,” Prewitt said. “But ultimately we’re all there because we want to be there and because we want to win.”
