By Adrian Dale

If one were to walk through the fine arts hallway of Mount Vernon High School, they may be lucky enough to hear our band, the Marching Mustangs, practicing. Working hard to maintain the rhythm of the band is bass drum player Adam Vig.

Vig, a sophomore at Mount Vernon High School, wasn’t always interested in marching band, and he didn’t have any musical background before joining the band. “I joined because it was just something to do, but I ended up really liking it.”

Vig joined the band in sixth grade, and quickly gravitated towards percussion. “It just suits my personality. I’ve been described by other people as a louder guy.”

He stayed in the band through middle school, eventually getting a little more serious about it after he joined the marching band pit in eighth grade. But Vig wasn’t content with being in the pit. He wanted to march, and this past year he got his wish. He joined the drum line this year as a bass in Thunderstruck. “My favorite movement is the third, because it’s very drum-oriented and fun to play,” he said of the AC/DC and Symphonie Fantastique mashup performed as the final song in the band’s halftime show.

“He likes playing loud,” said junior Sean Pitlik, Vig’s section leader. “He’s very independent, and has the ability to learn what he needs to learn, but can be a bit obnoxious sometimes, and likes to play when no one else is.”

Vig has enjoyed being part of the band, and has created fond memories of his time in drumline. “Many of my favorite memories are from the ridiculous things people in the drum line do, like Henry Maddock trying to do a wall jump, and failing.”

Drumline is a big commitment for Vig. Along with the week-long camp for the entire band, the percussion section has two additional weeks of camp to learn their music. “The long hours are probably the only part I don’t like,” Vig said.

The drumline instructor is Brock Davenport. “Brock’s a good teacher. He’s taught me a lot. He’s taught me how to play better, how to march, he’s always there to help, and he’s always there to criticize you,” said Vig.

Despite being very confident in rehersal, Vig does sometimes get nervous when performing in front of large audiences. “I’m really just a sore loser. I want to do well,” said Vig. Vig isn’t nervous for long though, with it quickly wearing off after he starts playing and gets back into his marching band mindset.

Vig said he would like to continue to grow and improve as a drummer over his career. Whether or not he reaches these goals, the friendships he’s made, what he’s learned, and his memories of band will stay with him forever.