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Drummond: Learning to find himself in the music
Drummond is tasked with joining his high school marching band’s drumline and needs to find himself to succeed. You, like Drummond, might find yourself overthinking your life, or sometimes struggle to understand what you want to do with your future. The book is about figuring out who we are inside, then learning how to fit in. Drummond grapples and second-guesses himself throughout the book, but dealing with outside factors isn’t easy! Finding some unexpected help along the way guides him into his role in the band, and in life. When family life outside of band gets dark, Drummond needs to fit into his new family within marching band!
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2021
1 person want to read
About the author
Patrick R.F. Blakley
18 booksPatrick R. F. Blakley is a SAMMY award-winning percussionist from Syracuse, New York. He is a music judge for the New York State Field Band Conference and participated in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2018! Patrick has written two technical marching percussion books and also a children’s book called Drummy Drum Joins Marchy Band.
The children’s book inspired his Drummond novel, which explores the question of why a drum would join the marching band in the first place. As it turns out, the drum was just a projection of his inner-self and Drummond had to find out who he really was inside! Drummond then uses that information to try to fit in and connect with his new family. Check out Drummond: Learning to find himself in the music!
The children’s book inspired his Drummond novel, which explores the question of why a drum would join the marching band in the first place. As it turns out, the drum was just a projection of his inner-self and Drummond had to find out who he really was inside! Drummond then uses that information to try to fit in and connect with his new family. Check out Drummond: Learning to find himself in the music!
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 7, 2022
Drummond is just trying to figure it all out: school, girls, whatever is going on with his parents. It has the potential to be overwhelming, but luckily most of his time is taken up thinking about his current transformation into a percussionist. He was already a drummer, but private lessons quickly pushed him toward something more serious and more dedicated, like the high school drumline. Even though he’s unsure if that’s really where he wants to be, Drummond finds himself immersed in a whole new world that he’s quickly enamored by, complete with a sense of community and new friends that quickly become like family.
Drummond: Learning to Find Himself in the Music is an insightful novel by Patrick R.F. Blakley that draws heavily on his own experiences in high school band. Throughout the story, we see how Drummond’s confidence in himself grows proportionally to his confidence as a drummer as his inner monologue maps out the workings of the teenage mind. The crux of the action falls on the shoulders of the drumline, both in lessons to prepare and the actual practices. Many of the musical details are explained in highly technical terms, although Blakley mentions that he wrote it while keeping non-musical people in mind.
The inner monologue mentioned earlier is one of the book’s highlights moves the plot along in a natural and endlessly entertaining way. Drummond’s mind is well acclimated to the musical world he is immersed in and moves with a rhythm that suits his talents well.
Blakley’s book also includes a variety of appendices and author’s notes that expand on his own personal experiences in the band, and the record of the drumline. At the same time, he was involved with and inspired by some of the characters. While this portion is written in a distinctly different tone, it’s an exceedingly interesting addition that provides a little more depth and humanity to the events. Blakley’s testimonial solidified the overarching theme of finding yourself and creating your own identity.
While I did find myself lost through some of the very technical musical lingo, I thought Drummond was a fantastic character and enjoyed every bit of growth he experienced. The awkwardness, the uncertainty, and the grounding nature of finding something you love are everyday encounters for a 13-year-old, and that relatability made the book that much more enjoyable.
Drummond: Learning to Find Himself in the Music is a beautifully written coming-of-age novel for teens and young adults. Teens looking for inspiration or anyone with a love or nostalgia for the marching band will find this book a welcome addition to their collection.
Drummond: Learning to Find Himself in the Music is an insightful novel by Patrick R.F. Blakley that draws heavily on his own experiences in high school band. Throughout the story, we see how Drummond’s confidence in himself grows proportionally to his confidence as a drummer as his inner monologue maps out the workings of the teenage mind. The crux of the action falls on the shoulders of the drumline, both in lessons to prepare and the actual practices. Many of the musical details are explained in highly technical terms, although Blakley mentions that he wrote it while keeping non-musical people in mind.
The inner monologue mentioned earlier is one of the book’s highlights moves the plot along in a natural and endlessly entertaining way. Drummond’s mind is well acclimated to the musical world he is immersed in and moves with a rhythm that suits his talents well.
Blakley’s book also includes a variety of appendices and author’s notes that expand on his own personal experiences in the band, and the record of the drumline. At the same time, he was involved with and inspired by some of the characters. While this portion is written in a distinctly different tone, it’s an exceedingly interesting addition that provides a little more depth and humanity to the events. Blakley’s testimonial solidified the overarching theme of finding yourself and creating your own identity.
While I did find myself lost through some of the very technical musical lingo, I thought Drummond was a fantastic character and enjoyed every bit of growth he experienced. The awkwardness, the uncertainty, and the grounding nature of finding something you love are everyday encounters for a 13-year-old, and that relatability made the book that much more enjoyable.
Drummond: Learning to Find Himself in the Music is a beautifully written coming-of-age novel for teens and young adults. Teens looking for inspiration or anyone with a love or nostalgia for the marching band will find this book a welcome addition to their collection.
September 9, 2022
Drummond is a thirteen-year-old boy with an unbalanced equation. His life at home seems strong, but his musical realm lacks substance. As the young boy pushes harder into the world of the marching band, his family, though supportive, grows apart both figuratively and literally. As most young ones do, Drummond tends to ignore many familial situations that occur around him. This is made clear throughout the book as an illustration of the naivete of Drummond, who focuses only on the band. In fact, Drummond is so concerned about which instrument he needs to play that most of the things he learns about his family happen on the car ride to and from band practice. This is a perfect way to portray a young boy’s innocence while distracted by something much more important to him and his short-term future. Most kids don’t see past the nearest obstacle to plan for the future, and this novel hits that square on the mark! By the book’s conclusion, we see the teeter-totter has flipped, and Drummond has a successful musical hobby while his home life is helplessly left in disarray. This is not seen as a sacrifice but more as a matter-of-fact result by way of true life. The novel has both a happy and unhappy ending which is both genuine and also an ordinary occurrence in homes everywhere. Though Drummond has grown tremendously as a person, his equation remains unbalanced.
Opinion:
For younger readers, Drummond is a reflection of yourself today. He is experiencing many similar things as most teenagers do. For musicians, you may even feel like the story is about you specifically, using music terminology that makes things very real. Off the field, Drummond’s life is relatable with boys, girls, nerves, jealousy, awkwardness, and stumbling forward through rites-of-passage. For older readers, the book takes us on a nostalgia trip back to grade school where we can all relate to familiar themes: homework, report cards, chores, dating, and even getting grounded. Much more importantly though, we see through Drummond’s eyes how we reacted and dealt with each problem in the moment to learn from it in the future. In effect, the book is about how we all got to where we are today! Blakley's novel is charming, humorous, and an authentic look into a relatable past for all readers of any age. For musicians, this book is an essential read; it’s your story! Drummond is an incredibly well-written coming-of-age story that hits so close to home. 5/5 stars!
Opinion:
For younger readers, Drummond is a reflection of yourself today. He is experiencing many similar things as most teenagers do. For musicians, you may even feel like the story is about you specifically, using music terminology that makes things very real. Off the field, Drummond’s life is relatable with boys, girls, nerves, jealousy, awkwardness, and stumbling forward through rites-of-passage. For older readers, the book takes us on a nostalgia trip back to grade school where we can all relate to familiar themes: homework, report cards, chores, dating, and even getting grounded. Much more importantly though, we see through Drummond’s eyes how we reacted and dealt with each problem in the moment to learn from it in the future. In effect, the book is about how we all got to where we are today! Blakley's novel is charming, humorous, and an authentic look into a relatable past for all readers of any age. For musicians, this book is an essential read; it’s your story! Drummond is an incredibly well-written coming-of-age story that hits so close to home. 5/5 stars!
March 17, 2022
The Review
This was such a brilliantly written and captivating YA Genre Fiction read! The author expertly crafted a relatable and genuine narrative that felt alive on the page, and the imagery and tone the author captured ranged from the desolate to the passionate depending on the protagonist’s environment and mood. The themes of finding a community to belong to, nurturing one’s gift, and seeking family in the face of chaotic home life all played a central role in the protagonist’s narrative.
The character growth was the heart and passion of the story in this book. The balance the author struck between Drummond’s turbulent and struggle of home life with the newfound passion and inspiration he finds, (as well as a new family), in his life in the marching band. The attention to detail the author puts into the actual percussions of the book and Drummond’s lessons in the marching band will ring a special note with music enthusiasts, and the nuanced way the author explores family dynamics will be widely felt in this reading.
The Verdict
Engaging, thought-provoking, and a special rhythm all its own, author Patrick R.F. Blakley’s “Drummond: Learning to find himself in the music” is a must-read YA Genre Fiction novel! The author’s own personal background in percussions and the origins of this story resting in the author’s previous children’s book make this story shine so much more brightly, and the personal touches the author puts on the narrative, as well as the emotional connection readers will form with Drummond, make this such an incredibly moving read.
This was such a brilliantly written and captivating YA Genre Fiction read! The author expertly crafted a relatable and genuine narrative that felt alive on the page, and the imagery and tone the author captured ranged from the desolate to the passionate depending on the protagonist’s environment and mood. The themes of finding a community to belong to, nurturing one’s gift, and seeking family in the face of chaotic home life all played a central role in the protagonist’s narrative.
The character growth was the heart and passion of the story in this book. The balance the author struck between Drummond’s turbulent and struggle of home life with the newfound passion and inspiration he finds, (as well as a new family), in his life in the marching band. The attention to detail the author puts into the actual percussions of the book and Drummond’s lessons in the marching band will ring a special note with music enthusiasts, and the nuanced way the author explores family dynamics will be widely felt in this reading.
The Verdict
Engaging, thought-provoking, and a special rhythm all its own, author Patrick R.F. Blakley’s “Drummond: Learning to find himself in the music” is a must-read YA Genre Fiction novel! The author’s own personal background in percussions and the origins of this story resting in the author’s previous children’s book make this story shine so much more brightly, and the personal touches the author puts on the narrative, as well as the emotional connection readers will form with Drummond, make this such an incredibly moving read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews