From the intense summer heat to late October, various marching bands across Texas put countless hours into their marching shows. The Emerson High School Band is no exception to this trend, and they usually start their summer band practices in July. Several student leaders set the tone of the year in these early and efficient rehearsals, yet the student that contributes the most is Emerson’s head drum major, Keshika Sharma, 12. 

Throughout her high school career, Sharma has been involved in several Emerson organizations such as National Honor Society, National Math Honor Society, National French Honor Society, and is one of the school’s All-State flutists. Sharma has also held her drum major position since she was a sophomore. In her role she has helped the band for the last three years, yet she wouldn’t have even considered the position if not for one of Emerson’s first drum majors.

Sharma said, “I was inspired to try out for the position of drum major by my role model, Isha Jannu. She was the first, and my, like, only, sense of guidance through the process. While the directors taught me the conducting, she showed me what being a leader was actually like, even when she herself was trying to figure things out.”

As a drum major, the most significant thing Sharma maintains is the timing of the marching show. Whenever she stands on her podium, 197 band members’ eyes focus on the movements of her hands to keep a correct pulse throughout the show. Marchers depend on her, and Sharma’s work is important both on and off the field. 

“The most obvious way that my position directly impacts the band would be through my conducting, ‘cause I’m giving time during the marching shows, giving cues for when people come in,” Sharma said. “Basically, being a drum major means that you’re setting the standard for the whole band, not just your section. I’m setting the standard for rehearsal etiquette, for musicianship, for grades, for literally everything you can think of.”

Morning rehearsals entail different jobs for the drum majors. At the directors’ request, they run to fix metronomes, help tech on the field or work with different groups or individuals. In classes, their jobs can change to handling things such as props. Conducting is only one of the responsibilities Sharma’s position carries.

Sharma said, “It’s a very versatile position. So we’re literally taking on the most, if not all, different jobs when necessary. Other things we handle as part of our position are conflicts between different band members, or like attitude problems, or any kinds of problems that are happening on the field. Not every little thing can be going through the directors because they have so much to think about, so a lot of those little details are worked on by the drum majors.”

The band has continued to grow since its start in 2021. Sharma was among one of the 60-70 band members that first year, along with four color guard members, who performed Emerson’s first marching show, “A New Day.” This year for “Kinetic Playground,” there were almost 200 people on the field, and they have accomplished more than just increasing the size of their group. 

Sharma said, “If you compare the band that we had our first year, comparing that even to the next year, in my sophomore year, it was a totally different band. Every single year from then, our shows have just gotten harder, and our musicians and our marchers have just gotten so much better over the years.”

As the marching season comes to an end, Sharma’s pivotal role in the band comes to an end as well. From leading the band through rehearsals to guiding it during performances, Sharma’s leadership has set a standard of excellence for the band as it continues to grow for years to come.