Honing leadership skills highlight of drum major experience

If anyone is ready for an opportunity to learn about leadership, it’s Tippecanoe High School senior Jake Seger. After years of playing trumpet within the Tippecanoe Marching Band, Seger steps out this season in a new role as the band’s drum major. 

Seger isn’t just learning about directing, however. He’s carefully studied other drum majors while he’s been a member of the marching band, and he knows directing is just part of what he needs to bring to the table. “I saw how few seniors we had for this year and how important good leadership would be,” he explains.

To help him in his new role, Seger attended a weeklong Bands of America camp in June. This camp taught him more about directing, conflict resolution and building leadership skills. The friends he made at the Muncie, Indiana, based camp served as a highlight of the experience. “I’m excited for this band season to help everyone work and grow as a team,” he says. “The music is well-written. I really like the second movement with In the Hall of the Mountain King. I like the low brass solo in that.”

Seger has been playing trumpet within the band program since he was in fifth grade, but his love of music started much earlier. He began playing guitar in second grade, and he also plays the synthesizer. He says the Tecumseh band contest is probably his favorite of the season because it’s typically the last hurrah before state competition and a Bands of America performance in Indianapolis.

The leadership skills Seger is honing will serve him well in the future. He plans to study resort and attraction management at Bowling Green State University after graduating from Tippecanoe High School. Currently a certified trainer at King’s Island, he hopes to run a rides department in a major theme park someday.

Jake Seger is the son of Jamie and Alan Seger, and he has one older sister Marissa.