From hundreds of feet away, the distinctive sound of a drumline cuts through even the noisiest of city sounds. It wasn’t until I was standing before them that I realized the true energy of the drumline needs to be experienced from a visual perspective as well. They stand next to one another dressed in matching outfits and feed off one another’s energy to project themselves both as a cohesive unit and as individuals.

    As a result of this, their presence dominates the space. Even on the street, double-decker tour buses have braked to allow passengers to film, for a moment, the spectacle just outside the park. The thunderous sound of drums is interrupted only by the howls of approval and excitement generated by the performers themselves and shortly thereafter, the substantial crowd that has gathered.

    At this moment, I am certainly not the only one filming this performance as I watch other people with tripods competing for a view of the drumline front and center. While their silent aggression is somewhat distracting, I’d like to think of it as their way of expressing admiration for the performers, not hostility towards one another. Recognizing and acknowledging how other’s appreciate musical performance is an essential aspect of music in public spaces.