Cranston combined band brings the music back

Due to the pandemic, music has basically been silenced in Cranston schools; however, the Cranston Combined Winter Percussion band is back and in action.

“We are rocking and rolling, back at it. For our first time out in two years, it was great,” said band director Greg Arsenault. He’s been at East as a teacher for 19 years and teaching marching band since 1994.

The Cranston Combined Percussion is made up of 21 students: five students from Cranston West and 16 from Cranston East.

“There are six seniors, but we have a lot of younger, eager and enthusiastic kids,” Arsenault said.

The current seniors were sophomores when that call came in and everything was canceled. 

“It’s nice for them to be able to finish out their senior years playing, and it allows them to help in building up the younger kids,” he said.

They students recently had their first competition in Trumbull, Connecticut. 

“It was for the WGI (winter guard international), they are the top level and we have to compete under district name,” Arsenault explained.

“This is the one and only WGI in the Northeast. It’s a big deal to be there,” he added.

The Trumbull high school gym is about three times larger than Cranston East.

“For our first one out, I was pleased. They had a big crowd, full of spectators and other groups,” he said.

Students have been rehearsing since late October. 

The sets and costumes were done by parent Ron Schmitz, and the backdrops and costumes were a collaboration between parents Krista Schmitz and Melanie Miller.

“Trumbull was our first competition, the kids liked their performance, but the scores will drive them to do better,” Arsenault said.

The band performed an Age of Invention piece, steam punk, later 19th century, wheels and gears, light bulbs and locomotives.

“It was an HG Wells approach, one piece of music in three movements. The piece was specifically composed for this type of group music,” said Arsenault.

This year being the year of rebuilding, they picked one that they thought was attainable.

The Cranston Combine Percussion Band will be hosting the NESBA (New England Scholastic Band Association) on Saturday, April 2.

Cranston as the host band, and Bishop Hendricken are the only Rhode Island schools that do percussion. Other schools that are competing include Bishop Feehan, Biddeford, Maine, and King Phillip Regional High School from Wrentham, Massachusetts. Dartmouth High school will do a 30-minute percussion clinic as well, after their performance.

Haven Brothers setting up a truck for cooked food right outside the building.

“The Marching band will be back for the invitational. It will be our one and only show. It’s always a good fundraiser, and a good community event, it’s nice for the kids,” he said.

Arsenault is optimistic about the continuation of the music program. While currently there are 30 students in marching. 

“The middle schools are rocking it now. There are tons of parents, they realize how much they and their kids missed it. Numbers are coming, I want to be able to support high school programs,” said Arsenault.

The April 2 show will be held in the Cranston East gym, with doors opening at 4 p.m. Adult admission is $10,seniors/students are $8 and children under five are free. Percussion groups start at 5 p.m. with Cranston performing at 5:45 p.m.