Watch Out Drumline, Here Comes Cougar Cadet Core!

On a hot summer day in San Fansisco there is nothing better to keep people moving than the sound of good music and the Cougar Cadet Core of Alameda does just that.

“These kids come out almost every weekend to make money for their music school. This is an after school program that is not supported by the school district. They earn everything they have themselves. Their motto is each one, teach one but I don’t know how to play the drums. My job is to keep these kids disciplined”, said head instructor Rico Centro.

The Cadet Core played outside Forever Twenty-one in San Fransico with Gealeo Drumline on Saturday to help support one another.

“Gealeo is funded by the military. They are apart of ROTC but it’s nice to have young people supporting other young people“, said Rico Centro.

The drumline consisted of both male and female from elementary school to high school.

“[These gifted kids] just want to play, teach people how to play drums, and earn money to compete against other drumlines”, said Lenora Clark.

“This program keeps us out of trouble once we get out of school. It teaches discipline and respect for one another. I have been in this program for the past four years and I continue to help others even though I’m in college now”, said drum instructor Derrek Latchison, 18.

The Cadet Core is like a family of best friends who help and support each other in every way.

“I don’t play but I do help my father out with keeping these kids in line and making sure people don’t take advantage of them. I collect the money from the crowd inside one of the drums and make sure nobody takes it. These kids are not trying to scam people because everything go towards their program”, said Ceariaco Dixon.

Each kid in the drum line has a specific job to do. Some are different drums, some do tricks, and some play other instruments.

“I play five drums at a time but I started off as on the snear. When this program started we were given a few drums from a teacher but now we have a lot of drums. We really work hard to get where we are today”, said Cameron Leahy.

As one kid breaks it down during his solo moment the crowd goes wild.

“At first I just thought it was some loud hoodlum kids but after sitting here and watching them I realize they are truly something special. They are really good”, said spectator Ron Johnson.

“I love the music, it’s like their drums are talking. You can feel the emotion with every beat. I would support them if I could. This seems like a worthy cause because they love what they do. This is better than shopping”, said CSUEB student Josephine Igbineweka.