Drum Major, Reghan Cutler’s Musical Inclination

Music is all around us. Cars have radios, phones play videos, students at Redwood High School play instruments-which they can showcase through orchestra and/or band. Daily life incorporates music, and some of us can’t escape from the thrill of it.

“I find the most joy in music as a whole. I absolutely love performing,” states Reghan Cutler; a senior who has been involved with band for a total of eight years.

Though her involvement with band stretches only eight years, Cutler’s intuitive passion for music has been with her for as long as she can remember.

Since she was young, Cutler expresses how she has, “always had an intense passion for music.”

At the age of eight, Cutler began by learning the guitar. From there, she explored other instruments- whatever seemed interesting to her. As she has developed more knowledge and creative interest in the musical field, Cutler began picking up more and more instruments, eventually leading up to her ability to play eight instruments, along with the ability to use her vocal cords- singing.

Her band years started when she was in fifth grade, this now being her eighth year participating in band. In both fifth and sixth grade, she performed with the trumpet.

While attending Green Acres Middle School, Cutler played the euphonium in seventh and eighth grade, as she does now. Not only did she play the trumpet during fifth and sixth grade, she also performed with the trumpet again in eighth grade for Jazz Band. Alongside her spot in Jazz Band, Cutler served as the Drum Major throughout her eighth grade year.

The euphonium has become an instrument she has constantly performed with, continuing with her into her high school music career, this being her sixth year.

The euphonium can be described as a brass instrument with valves similar to a small tube. In more complex terms, Cutler goes into depth by stating that it is “a three to four valve, brass instrument that’s either pitched in C or Bb, and it’s commonly played in military or brass bands.”

In comparison to her middle school and high school experiences through band, Cutler expresses how the two have “a huge difference in intensity level.”

During middle school, Cutler explains how participants involved with band typically only march in parades, which isn’t comparable to high school field shows. During high school field shows, regarding band performances, instrumentalists have to “memorize more music, perform for longer amounts of time, occasionally have to do specific marching visuals, memorize different sets in the field,” and much more.

Cutler clarifies, “For anyone thinking about doing band from middle school, should know this- it’s definitely a lot more work, but it’s also a lot more fun to go out and perform shows during the football games and competitions and play pep tunes in the stands.”

Yet, if it wasn’t for her passion in middle school, she wouldn’t have felt the urge to lead a continuation of her experience into her high school career.

The 2021-22 school year at Redwood High School has Cutler participating in band in a variety of ways.

She serves as the Band Club President for this school year, is involved with Wind Ensemble, and Winterline.

For Winterline, Cutler isn’t merely just an instrumentalist, she is also the Drum Major for the Redwood Marching Band.

For Marching Band and Wind Ensemble, she has been associated with the two for four years, this year being her fourth year. She has done Winterline for two years.

Cutler’s inspiration towards being a part of band is, “the overall drive of what music can do for you.” She adds, “For me, it’s given me really wonderful opportunities to travel and perform for people. It’s also given me great work ethic and skill, since I will certainly tell you being an instrumentalist is not an easy task.”

Overall, Cutler describes her favorite part about being a band member is the friends she made throughout the course of her eight-year journey, “Band really is a community of its own, and it’s nice to be able to travel and perform with friends,” she states.

As she plays an assortment of musical instruments, the context of the situation depends on what she plays during that time. Cutler examples how in Winterline her freshman year, winter percussion, she played the vibraphone.

During her junior year, she played bass drum. Though, her main instrument throughout high school band has been the euphonium, “also known as the best instrument,” Cutler adds enthusiastically. Even if it is an uncommon instrument, she highly recommends it to those interested in music.

Cutler’s high school band instructor, Mr. Jordan Ray, has had a tremendous impact on her musical advancement. Cutler says, “He’s influenced me certainly by pushing me to be my best performer possible.”

At Redwood, Ray teaches Advanced Band, Wind Ensemble- which is the class Cutler is taking- Intermediate Band, and Jazz Band.

Over the course of the four years she’s been a part of band at Redwood, Cutler expresses her gratitude for Ray by stating, “I’ve learned so much since having him as my instructor for the past four years, especially being a Wind Ensemble member for all four years of high school.”

Similar to Cutler, Ray also plays the euphonium as his main instrument. She continues by further stating, “Having him as an instructor has definitely given him opportunities to push me further in my own abilities; whether he gave me lessons or picked pieces with cool euphonium parts to learn to take my own skills to a new level.”

Being involved with band and music for many years, has impacted Ray’s life immeasurably. Music can be defined as his profession, hobby, emotional outlet, and a major part of his social life. He is incredibly grateful to be able to incorporate music into his life on a daily basis.

“Not only do I teach, but I perform whenever possible- music is what makes me who I am. Music provides a way to translate different parts of my life, it gives me the ability to instill that love in others through teaching, it gives me the ability to deal with my day through performance as well as connect me to my community,” says Ray.

Ray, who has been teaching band for twenty years, and as the head director for fifteen, explained Cutler’s position in further depth, as she has a handful of responsibilities to fulfill as the Drum Major in the Ranger Marching Band.

He explains how she has to, “know the score and sets of the Marching Show as well as conducting the show, run warm-ups, and evening rehearsals in conjunction with marching band staff, pep Band Conducting, [and] Mace Prep and Performance.”

With the plentiful amount of duties Cutler’s position implicates, Ray expresses his delight towards her involvement in the program.

“Reghan is a great member of our program. She works hard, is dedicated, and takes her work to heart. She is a role model for others, and I’m very proud that she is willing to work so hard for our program here at Redwood. The teacher/student dynamic with Reghan is excellent. She takes instruction well, works hard on her role, and is willing to grow as both a leader and a musician.”

Mr. Ray, Head Band Director at Redwood High School

The Drum Major role involves leadership, and Cutler steps up to that role. Ray continues with, “In regard to influencing other members, Reghan’s demeanor, leadership, and preparedness helps run smooth and efficient rehearsals.”

He also expresses how the the tone of rehearsal for the student members of the Ranger Marching Band is exemplified by the Drum Major, as the position is lead by someone who is prepared at every rehearsal.

Seeing as Cutler fits all the qualities needed for the Drum Major role in the Ranger Marching Band, Ray states that Cutler’s qualities of being both “hard-working” and “well-liked by her peers” qualified her as a great candidate for the position.

In a typical school year, auditions for the spot would be held, although coming from the COVID-19 return, Ray chose someone he knew would be fit for the task with the given circumstances that still stand.

He adds, “We always have a head Drum Major in band, many times that is accompanied by one or two assistant Drum Majors, however, this year is a little different.”

During the Coronavirus induced quarantine throughout last year, Cutler explained the abnormality of what it felt like to miss out on the role of marching and playing alongside her fellow band mates. In a normal marching season, she would play the baritone- the marching band version of the euphonium.

With her newfound responsibility of being the Drum Major, Cutler describes what she does as being “a lot of fun,” as she enjoys her position incredibility.

“Nothing beats being the one to lead your band mates in a show; and hopefully to victory,” she adds.

Cutler’s younger sister, Kennedy Cutler, is a sophomore currently attending Redwood High School. Being able to watch her sister perform imprints a sense of pride, as Kennedy gets to witness Reghan do what she loves.

During her middle school years, Kennedy not only played the flute, but was also the Drum Major following in her sister’s foot steps her eighth grade year. Besides this, she doesn’t plan of continuing in band.

Reghan’s musical enjoyment has impacted Kennedy’s life in a sincere, sisterly aspect. Kennedy expresses, “I love to listen to Reghan when she sings some of my favorite songs. We love Taylor Swift, so we always jam out together.”

When her sister takes the stage performing, doing what she deeply enjoys, Kennedy feels the utmost happiness.

“I feel happy because I see how happy she is. It brings her happiness, which brings me happiness,” Kennedy says.

In Kennedy’s life, specifically, music has not been something she’s incredibly interested in pursuing, although she’s observed how much music has impacted Reghan’s life.

“It’s her passion and it brings her happiness,” adds Kennedy.

For Reghan, performing with her instrument has always been “surreal” to her, especially in the performance region. Another word is not comparable for describing the sensation of being in front of a crowd, doing what she loves.

Cutler compares it as similar to being in a trance-like state, “You almost forget everything you did until it’s over and you hear the clapping of the audience,” she explains.

“For me, I forget I’m even performing. I sort of get put into a trance where I’m just mindlessly letting the music flow out of me. I usually don’t realize I’ve finished something until I hear the claps, because I get so caught up in the moment of what I’m doing.”

Reghan Cutler, ’22 Band Major

Cutler describes band as a “really important part” in her life over the last several years. She finds the experience as a great opportunity for growth, not only as a musician, but also as a person.

Everyone goes through that stage or mindset where they truly uncover their growth sooner or later, and for Cutler, she has grown throughout her time in the Redwood Ranger Band, and hopes to continue further grow as she pursues a career in music.

“Whether that’s the music skills I developed or confidence in being a leader, I think it’s a really great activity to really develop as a person, make friends, and have fun,” Cutler says.

Given her middle and high school experiences, Cutler hopes to embrace her musical inclination with her future career. In college, she intends on majoring in music technology. From this, she hopes to pursue a career in music production and engineering.

“You could definitely say I’m in this music thing for life,” Cutler says.

Tags: band, band major, band teacher, Donya Hassanshahi, features, humans of redwood, Redwood, redwood band, redwood gigantea, redwood journalism, Redwood marching band, redwood rangers, Reghan Cutler