Staff writer
“Being in charge really changes your perspective,” Marion High School band director Adam Johnson said of drum major Nicole Herzet.
When Johnson began at MHS in fall 2007, Herzet often questioned his decisions.
Now a senior, she is an indispensible asset to him.
Herzet was a logical choice for drum major this year. There are six seniors in the band, but she is the only one with the desire and availability for the duties, Johnson said. Among other responsibilities, a drum major conducts the band and helps keep it organizaed.
She already was interested in being drum major when he started in Marion.
“Basically I’ve liked music ever since I was little,” Herzet said.
She joined band in fifth grade and plays flute and piccolo. Being drum major is more fun because of the added responsibility, Herzet said.
She plans to major in music education when she goes to college. She has wanted to be a band director since sixth grade, she said.
Johnson is happy she is choosing music education, but said the leadership skills she is developing will be helpful no matter what she does.
Getting other students’ attention is the most challenging part of being a drum major, Herzet said.
“They don’t like to listen,” she said. “That’s why I have the whistle.”
She takes being drum major seriously, Johnson said. She even occasionally practices conducting in front of a mirror.
She is tremendously helpful. She conducted the high school band in Monday’s parade, freeing Johnson to conduct the middle school band.
Leading other students can be intimidating for a drum major, he said, and Herzet agreed.
“It’s harder to be a leader than I thought it would be,” she said.
She has quickly grown as a leader since school began, and she gets the job done, Johnson said.
“She is exemplifying more leadership qualities than I expected,” he said. “I am proud of her.”