A true cymbal player
By Erica Hoelscher
Skiff Staff

Before sophomore Kyle Gummelt started playing the cymbals, he never thought they could pinch his stomach or leave bruises on his hands and chest. Now he plays the cymbals in the TCU Winterline and is experiencing these aches and pains first hand.

Gummelt has always been somewhat of a music man. He has been playing the clarinet in school bands since the sixth grade. Gummelt started playing the trumpet in the spring of 2002, and has recently added the cymbals to his musical repertoire.

He heard about Winterline from a friend.

“It’s something different to do and it’s a new way to meet people,” he said.
Brian West, coordinator of percussion, said the TCU Winterline is just like the fall drumline but there is no wind instruments, it is just percussion instruments. The winterline is also different in that the program is open to high school and junior college students, he said.

This is Gummelt’s first time to participate in Winterline and he said there are four or five new cymbal players in the group.

Gummelt had never played the cymbals before joining the group, but said his music background helped him learn.

“It’s more difficult to memorize the cymbal music because it’s not a melody,” he said. “But it makes you a stronger counter.”

The five cymbal players in the group are called by their position in line, not their names, he said.

“We don’t even go by our names anymore, just the numbers,” he said. “I’m No. 2.”

He said despite the fact that Winterline takes up at least two hours of his time a week, that it’s definitely worthwhile. Group practice sessions are held on Tuesdays and the cymbals section practices on Fridays.

“All the practice will pay off in the end when we have our concert,” he said.
Gummelt said the Winterline theme for this year is Latin music. Winterline members are currently rehearsing the song “Oye” by Gloria Estefan and and “South of the Border.”

“These songs are fun to play and now that I know my music, they are getting easier,” he said.

Anyone is welcome to join the TCU Winterline, he said, but it helps to have a background in music.

“You should be able to read music; it would definitely help,” Gummelt said.

This year local high school band students are also participating in Winterline.

“It’s a good way to show them TCU and our band department,” he said.
Erica Hoelscher

e.l.hoelscher@tcu.edu