The Blue Angels Drumline is made up of youth from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island, New York. It’s a full-scale group with kids playing every instrument you would expect, only their performances look a little different than your average high school marching band.
The children that form the Blue Angels come as they are and learn about themselves through music. But it goes further than self-expression! Their concerts take place right in the middle of their community. Their mission? To “make at least two people smile” with their music!
Some of their older members have been with the group since they were 9 or 10 years old. Over the years, these teens have developed such a passion that they’ve continued to stick with it!
One musician said he initially joined because the Blue Angels gave him somewhere to stay out of trouble, but eventually, it also taught him discipline. In fact, he added, “Discipline and drumming are actually just the same thing.”
Samuel Toussaint, the group’s director, said working with these kids makes him feel like he’s “actually doing something” with his time. After all, he can see the impact music has on them!
They’ve had more than 100 members over the years, and they all feel like family. When many of them leave to go to college or start their careers, they come back to play every now and then or teach new musicians their skills.
Through music, the Blue Angels are able to create unique bonds because they “feed off each other” while they play. The more energy a person gives, the more the others follow suit, making their performances feel more like a jam session than a concert.
The loose setup seems to work wonders because people who are out and about in their community regularly stop to take in their mesmerizing tunes. As it turns out, they’re so good that their goal of making at least two people smile is hardly a goal at all!
What an incredible way to bring joy to their neighbors! We’re so glad these kids are learning such valuable life skills.
See what all the fuss is about in the video below, and be sure to share this story with your friends.
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