Tag: drums

Though the volume made you think there were more, there were only 4 full-size bands in the parade and they were mostly drums, since there are few teachers or classes for other instruments. They were scattered throughout the parade with several small ensembles in-between, like 3 to 8 persons with multiple instruments.  There were more flag bearers than band members. Bands are bandas in Spanish.

Banda Escuela de Musica is a community band for all ages (child-adult) that meets, learns and practices after school. It includes my Spanish teacher, his son and son’s nanny, and another friend. I help raise money for their Panama trip. Notice, like others, they are now all drums except for 2 saxophones and 3 xylophones called marimbas here.

I like their spiffy uniform shirts which they are wanting to replace with “real” uniforms sometime. It is a community activity requiring donated money not easily obtained.

It is an after-school, community music school that teaches how to read music, how to play other instruments when they can be obtained, and the band will add more instruments over time as they can. It could become big in Atenas.

Banda de Colegio San Rafael is a suburban high school smaller than Liceo but sharper looking uniforms. All drums because of lack of music teachers.

Ticos teens like to dress sharp and appreciate cool hats!

Banda de Colegio Liceo is the largest from the largest school with golf shirts as uniforms and again mostly drums because of few music teachers.

All drummers are cool and since nearly all of the band are drummers . . . Boy! My band director would never have allowed sunglasses!  🙂 So maybe this is why Ticos are the happiest people on earth!?

They are followed by and overshadowed by the largest troop of flag bearers in the parade, also a part of Colegio Liceo. More flag photos tomorrow!

By now you may have learned that high schools are called “Colegio” in Spanish in Costa Rica. If not, that is your new Spanish word for today!   🙂

Unknown school with 8 boys on drums – what I was calling an “ensemble.”