BWB Drumline – BigWorldBreaks.com

The BWB Drumline is an award-winning inter-generational collective honoring Pan-African music and culture from the Americas, the Caribbean and West Africa. By reconnecting our generations, they work to create tangible community progress through authentic sharing of wisdom, resources, knowledge, innovative models of collaboration and cultural preservation.

“Working with BWB Drumline has always been a positive and uplifting experience. This is a safe space for our youth to learn and create. We enjoy being a part of the BWB family!”

Shawna Dennard
(Seattle-based musician / mother of BWB Drumline member)

“In Meany’s BWB Drumline, I’ve made friends with people I had never talked to before. I have become more open to improvising than I used to, and it has really helped me with my people skills. Being in it has helped me to voice my opinion and to be heard, and it is a great family to be a part of.”

RaNiyah
(member of Meany’s BWB Drumline)

“Meany Middle School reopened in the Fall of 2017. The first partnership that was built was with Aaron Walker-Loud and Big World Breaks. It has been an amazing musical journey in these two short years! The first year we won the BDX Drumline competition at Garfield High School. The second year, the drumline performed for the Seattle School Board meeting and was received so favorably that they were requested to perform at the School Board’s annual retreat at the beginning of our 3rd year. Meany students are naturally musically talented but, under the guidance of Mr. Walker-Loud’s musical genius those abilities are unbelievable.”

Chanda E. Oatis
(Principal: Meany Middle School)

“I have been working with Aaron Walker-Loud and Big World Breaks on community music projects for over 10 years. Each time I have the pleasure to be associated with BWB I walk away a better educator and musician. Always looking forward to getting a call from AWL.”

Tony Sodano
(Assistant Director: Seahawks Blue Thunder Drumline / Director: Garfield High School Bands and Drumline 2007-2018 / Seattle-based musician)

“It has been great to meet and know BWB Drumline director Aaron Walker Loud. Also I enjoy his continued support of working with all of the extremely gifted students who have the opportunity to work with Big World Breaks; who are truly dedicated and supportive. It has been an honor to witness Aaron who also has been a great mentor to our grandson Jordan, and a positive influence, especially in his formative years. BWB is doing great work in our community and the drumline program at Meany Middle School to keep music alive for our enjoyment. Please support Big World Breaks as they show great talent in the great Pacific Northwest.”

Carla Anderson
(Seattle-based musician / grandmother of BWB Drumline member)

Since inception in 2015 they have performed at M.O.H.A.I., MoPOP, the Seattle Art Museum exhibit opening for Kehinde Wiley and much more. Members of the BWB Drumline hail from the Big World Breaks roster and the extended BWB family, as well as a growing student roster from:

Madrona Elementary School, Bailey Gatzert Elementary School,

Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, South Shore PK-8, Meany Middle School,

Washington Middle School, Madison Middle School, Garfield High School,

Interagency Academy and Todd Beamer High School.

On March 7^th, 2020, Meany’s BWB Drumline took the first place trophy in the middle school division of the annual Lincoln Invitational Drumline Festival in Tacoma, WA.

On May 19th, 2018, Meany’s BWB Drumline took the first place trophy at the 10th Annual BDX Drumline Competition at Garfield High School, the largest and most ground breaking drumline competition in the Northwest; defeating all other middle school programs in the greater Seattle-area after having only launched in November 2017.

Meany’s BWB Drumline

Empowered by: the Beat Our Future partnership between Big World Breaks & Meany Middle School

Directed by Big World Breaks founder: Aaron Walker-Loud

Funded in Part by: The Creative Advantage

History of the BWB Drumline

When the legendary music educator Mr. Robert Knatt, who is one of the most respected, effective and award-winning music educators world-wide, retired from teaching at Washington Middle School in 2008; he invited his former student Aaron Walker-Loud to take over the drumline program.

Working first in partnership with the Y.M.C.A. after school program, then inviting Arts Corps to partner with the Y.M.C.A. to enhance growth in 2009, Walker-Loud empowered the youth of Washington to not only create the most award-winning middle school drumline in the greater Seattle area, but all cultures and genders were beautifully represented (2008-2016).

This experience at Washington Middle School inspired Walker-Loud to develop the BWB Drumline in order to more effectively unify multiple schools and community-based organizations (as well as Big World Breaks’ affiliates in the music industry); all to create a larger movement of inter-generational collaboration. Now that Washington Middle School is under new leadership, Aaron has resurrected this legacy for a new era with Washington’s BWB Drumline, which officially launched in December 2019.

Meany’s BWB Drumline – Spring 2018
Photos by Jaylon Nazario

Meany’s BWB Drumline – Spring 2020
Photos by Andrew Imanaka

SOWA 2018
Bridges Conference
Photos by Sally Phnouk

BWB Drumline’s First Performance in 2015

This collaboration was with some incredible teaching artists from the OneBeat 2015 team: Fabian Sanchez, Arun Sivag and Eddie Valencia; also featuring select members of the Washington Middle School Drumline (partnered with Arts Corps) and the O’Dea High School Drumline.

OneBeat 2015 teaching artists Fabian Sanchez, Arun Sivag and Eddie Valencia with Big World Breaks director Aaron Walker-Loud; warming up the crowd with some improvisation.

The BWB Drumline performs an original composition/arrangement by Fabian Sanchez: “Choco Beat”, inspired by the rhythms of his hometown “Cali” (Santiago de Cali, Colombia).

RaNiyah (member of Meany’s BWB Drumline)

Carla Anderson (Seattle-based musician / grandmother of BWB Drumline member)

History of the BWB Drumline

BWB Drumline’s First Performance in 2015

Affiliates

RaNiyah
(member of Meany’s BWB Drumline)

Carla Anderson
(Seattle-based musician / grandmother of BWB Drumline member)