About 35 students in Permian High School’s percussion program took part in the annual drumline camp this week.
“It’s our first event for the 2022-2023 school year,” Director of Percussion Tyler Serrato said.
Serrato was just hired on after the departure of John Carroll, who is now at Monahans High School.
They would normally have the camp at Permian High School, but the water outage had them looking for different accommodations. They were able to use the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center.
The camp lasted through Thursday and they are expecting to be back at PHS.
A group called N8 Rhythm of Houston has been brought in to provide instruction for many years. Lamar Burkhalter, founder of N8 and music director of the Houston Texans band, suggested the Wagner Noel.
Camp was supposed to be Monday through Wednesday, but with the water situation camp was cancelled Tuesday and all schools were closed Wednesday. Contacts were made and UTPB was able to host it, Serrato said.
Lamar Burkhalter, director of the Houston Texans Band and a Yamaha Performing Artist, suggested the WNPAC.
Serrato said the camp’s aim is to get students in the percussion program comfortable with playing for the upcoming marching season.
“… They had auditions about three weeks ago, so it’s kind of the first rehearsal as full drumline after those auditions,” Serrato said.
The point is to show the students what they will be doing during the year, Serrato said.
“… For a lot of these kids that come straight from middle school it’s definitely a big leap and just the amount of music; the amount of intensity. They’ve never done marching band in their life, so coming from middle school straight to high school 6A marching band is a pretty big change for them,” Serrato said.
Serrato grew up in Odessa and is a Permian graduate. He studied under Carroll and graduated in 2015. He went to Texas Tech University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 2019.
“Right after I graduated is when COVID hit. I was able to find a job up there in Lubbock, where I taught elementary for one year. Then after that school year, I came here to ECISD. This past year I’ve been at Crockett Middle School teaching their band. Then Mr. Carroll called me a few weeks ago and told me the news about him leaving Permian … It was too good of an opportunity for me to … just sit back and not at least try applying for (it). I filled out the application and met with Jeff Whitaker, the band director. I was hired on last week … So it’s been a pretty quick turnaround,” Serrato said.
He said the students have been doing great and they have been taught well by Carroll and the other directors. Serrato also praised the middle school directors for getting the students ready for high school.
Elijah Burchfield, 17, an incoming PHS senior, has participated in the camp his whole high school career.
“… It’s just kind of been natural for me to just hop right into it and get things going for the year drumming,” Burchfield said.
He added that the camp helps him get ready.
“I feel like it really gets us together for the next year. We’ll really bring all the sections together and get the warm-ups going and get everything on the road, really,” Burchfield said.
He added that he doesn’t mind giving up a few days of summer for the event.
“I love giving time to get better,” Burchfield said.
He added that Burkhalter is a great teacher.
“… I’ve learned a lot from him. He’s absolutely amazing,” Burchfield said.
“I’m looking forward to a great year. I hope we go far in the season,” he added.
Jase Contreras, a 16-year-old junior, is in his third year with the percussion camp.
“I think it’s a great way to kind of kickstart our line for the year. It’s kind of where we get to see everybody’s playing ability and it’s our first official time playing as a group, or as a line,” Contreras said.
He said it has been a little strange with the water situation, but they will be fine.
He added that the camp helps him get ready for the new school year. Contreras said he’s also impressed with N8.
“I think they’re a great team of teachers and leaders. … They show us what a line should be personality wise,” Contreras said.
He added that the instruction stays with him.
“There’s a lot of times where we’ll have a problem and we look back to camp to see how to solve it,” he said.
Burkhalter said he taught at Westfield High School in Houston for 16 years and came up with the idea that he could bring his knowledge and his staff to schools instead of them having to go to university band camp and pay for room and board.
“This way they can work on their own equipment, on their own show and be more competitive,” Burkhalter said.
He said the musicians are amazing.
“They’re wonderful. They’ve had great teaching all of these years, not by me and my staff, but by the local staff to include Mr. John Carroll. That’s why I continue to come. I don’t have to come out here. I get to choose where I want to work and I’ve chosen for 26 years to always return to Permian,” Burkhalter said.
