Drum lines from Pike County, Bullock County and Jeff Davis high schools will do battle at 6:30 tonight at the Pike County High School gymnasium. In addition to the highly competitive and spirited battles, the Tuskegee University Drum Line will also perform in exhibition as will the PCHS Jazz Band.

Jimmy Oliver, PCHS director of bands, said a drum line is a section of the band that plays rhythms on snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, quads and tenor drums.

“Each section has varied rhythms that, when played together, form a type of beat,” Oliver said. “There are five judges that will judge each drum line on a variety of things such as their entrance, uniformity, creativity, crowd appeal, use of dynamics and rudiments.”

When drum lines do battle, the students of the drum line are the center of attention rather than the entire band being judged.

Admission to the drum line competition is $5.

“The money raised from the competition will help pay off the PCHS jazz band’s trip to Disney World where they will compete in the Festival Disney Program.

The PCHS jazz band will leave for Orlando on March 7 and will compete on March 8 at Hollywood Studios.

Oliver said the public is invited to the drum line battle and the exhibition by the Tuskegee University Drum Line.

He expressed appreciation for the community’s support of the PCHS band programs.