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Fleming Island student keeps drumming

By Joshua Torres
Posted 9/26/18

FLEMING ISLAND – When most kids come into their parents’ room to tell them they want to play an instrument they may get a little excited, but some will probably wonder if their child will even …

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Fleming Island student keeps drumming


Posted

FLEMING ISLAND – When most kids come into their parents’ room to tell them they want to play an instrument they may get a little excited, but some will probably wonder if their child will even stick with it. But when that same child says he want to play drums, then the parents might get a little concerned with how loud their house is about to become.

Carson Frank’s parents responded with a mix of joy and uncertainty as this was something they had never gone through.

“We’ve kinda learned along the way as he’s gone through but it’s been fun,” said Richard Frank, Carson’s father.

The Fleming Island High School senior has recently been selected to be on the All American Drum Line for Drumlines of America. Drumlines of America collects audition tapes from people all across the country for the All American Drum Line.

He also was accepted to be a Drum Corps International member of the Louisiana Stars and spent the past summer practicing and performing.

But his list of accomplishments does not stop there. He has recently been accepted as a member of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band. So, Clay County viewers will have the chance to see Carson as he marches with the rest of the band as part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year.

Mara Rose, the director of bands for Fleming Island High, said she believes it’s so great to see Carson do so much with his talent.

“We work hard to motivate students to achieve their goals,” said Rose. “Seeing that happen is truly fulfilling.”

Carson said he practices drumming every single day.

“It’s kinda become one of the things that I revolve my life around,” said Carson. “I pretty much think about it all the time.”

He said that he practices drumming anywhere between 1-3 hours a day but if he has the chance he spends the entire day practicing.

It wasn’t all about drumming when he first started performing music. His first venture into music was when he started playing piano at a young age. He first joined his junior high band and played the alto saxophone. But Carson said that the moment he saw the drum corps he knew that is where he wanted to be.

All of this practicing and love for drumline shows. His list of accomplishments and awards since 2013 is probably longer than what most of have accomplished by the time that we reach 40-years-old.

But Carson is not stopping anytime soon as he hopes to be accepted as a member of the Boston Crusaders, the third oldest junior drum and bugle corps in the U.S., as well as Music City Drum and Bugle Corps in Nashville, Tenn. He also hopes to be accepted as a member of the Army All American Marching Band.

Carson is planning to attend college after he graduates but has not decided on where. He has already been accepted to the University of North Florida and the University of Central Florida.

But even in applying to colleges he still finds a way to bring drum corps into the picture.

“I learned about the long days in the hot sun practicing, pushing my mind and body beyond what I ever thought I could,” said Carson, on his college application essay. “I discovered the joy in succeeding in a task with others.”