Coppell Band leaders are essential for the program. Band is led by administrators, teachers and students, one of which is student leader Coppell High School senior drum major Wyatt Andrews. 

Andrews has been in band since sixth grade at Coppell Middle School West ever since he was inspired by musicians in his family. As a junior, Andrews became drum major for the Coppell varsity band. He plans to pursue musical education in the hopes that one day he will be the band director of his own middle or high school band.

What inspired you to become a drum major?

I wanted to help the marchers find the best version of themselves and to find their peak performance by the end of the season. I really wanted to set the example. I had this drive as a marcher my sophomore year; I ran back every time we reset and tried my hardest to stay set mentally. I wanted to give off energies that could be reflected by the people on the field. 

What does band mean to you?

Band has [a lot] of different meanings. It’s interesting because the music plays a strong role, but [there is] also the social and learning aspect. The most influential part is learning how to manage your time and playing abilities versus your learning abilities. I know it will transfer over to all areas of my life. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with amazing band directors like [CHS associate band director] Adrian Caswell and [Coppell ISD head band director] Gerry Miller. Their music selections [have] reflected events that have happened in my life, [and it makes me feel] connected to [the band directors] and the students around me.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced in band?

The biggest challenge in band is self depreciation. My standards will continue to rise, and it can be hard to keep a positive attitude and focus when I’m trying to get better. You tend to look for the negatives and what you need to fix. Band is a great experience because you learn to appreciate what you have. 

What was it like having your final season interrupted by COVID-19?

It was an amazing feeling [hearing marching season would continue through COVID-19]. For so long, it was up in the air [whether we were going to proceed with marching season or not]. It didn’t look too good, but being able to know we were going to do this was a great feeling.

In the end, I’m very happy with how it turned out. Although it was challenging, it made us appreciate how a normal season would have flowed, which made us enjoy the craft much more than we normally would. The payoff for this season was much greater than a normal year, which was absolutely amazing.

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