Marin's Only Marching Band

Did you know San Rafael has a new marching Band?   Davidson Middle School started a marching band this year – its first ever, and currently the only school marching band in Marin County.

The newest addition to Davidson’s award-winning music program, the marching band was formed to share this exciting but little-seen aspect of San Rafael school life with the larger community in Marin.

These kids work hard every day – coming in early in the morning, at lunch, after school, even over the summer – not just to learn their music, but to master the difficult and complicated process of marching and playing together.

 “Being in the marching band we all learn how to work together.  You can’t just do your own thing -- you have to be in step with everyone in the band and play your instrument at the same time,” says 7th grader Hannah P.  “It’s complicated and hard, but also really fun.”

The music program at Davidson is a highlight of students’ middle school years. Students who on the first day of sixth grade cannot imagine the experience of making music, find themselves playing along with peers and becoming part of an award-winning program that’s respected all over the Bay Area and Northern California. 

“Music at Davidson is an experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.  Most kids don’t get the chance to see this side of life and music. At Davidson it’s an amazing program,” according to Munir K., an 8th grade student.

Directed by award-winning music teacher, Dana Trillo, Davidson’s marching band is very good, and recently won first place in a Band Review competition at Del Mar High School in San Jose. The band also performed at San Rafael’s HeadsUp’s Summerfest to much fanfare and even joyful tears.

But the band needs uniforms in order to participate in competitions and events.  These kids are winners, and they should feel like winners when they perform.

Watch this short video of the kids practicing and marching at the May Madness parade and at Summerfest.  You’ll be proud and amazed at what these middle-schoolers in San Rafael have accomplished.

http://www.razoo.com/story/Davidson-Middle-School-Band-Uniforms

HeadsUp, San Rafael’s Public Education Foundation, is partnering with Davidson Music in an online crowd-funding campaign to raise the rest of the money needed to pay for the school’s marching band uniforms. You can find more information about HeadsUp, which supports elementary school and middle school music programs in San Rafael, at www.headsupsr.org or on Facebook at @headsupsr.