Drummond: Learning to find himself in the music
A young adult marching band novel by Patrick R. F. Blakley!
Click here to get the 2021 Special Edition Print, commemorating the year Drummond’s alma mater marching band won the state championships, just after the book was published!
This is a unique marching band story for both musicians and non-musicians alike! In Drummond: Learning to Find Himself in the Music, Drummond joins his high school drumline and must discover who he really is in order to succeed. Like Drummond, readers may sometimes overthink life or struggle to figure out their path. The story explores self-discovery, learning to fit in, and navigating the everyday challenges of growing up.
Throughout the book, Drummond grapples with self-doubt and external pressures, but unexpected guidance helps him find his place in the band and in life. When challenges at home become difficult, the marching band becomes a new family where he can belong and grow.
Drummond is a 320-page story that explores the overarching themes of discovering who you are and learning to believe in yourself. Packed with humor, heart, and music, the book is engaging for readers of all ages, making it a perfect read for young adults, families, and anyone who enjoys a coming-of-age story set in the world of marching band.
By popular demand, autographed, inscribed, and gift copies are also available, click here to get yours!
Drummond is now also available at several local bookstores and libraries in New York State!
Drummond is the first full-length novel by Patrick R. F. Blakley and a deeper, more developed version of his earlier Drummy story. It builds on Drummy Drum Joins Marchy Band, which was released as a children’s book, audiobook, and activity book. While Drummy Drum introduces the story for younger readers, Drummond retells the same events for a young adult audience, exploring them in greater depth.
The novel follows Drummond, a student who is convinced to try marching band, and quickly becomes hooked! With humor, heart, and music at every step and turn, Drummond was a 2022 Amazon eBook best-seller across multiple categories. Whether you’re young at heart or a young adult reader, the story is enjoyable even if you’re not a marching band expert. For marching band veterans, it offers relatable characters and situations that echo friendships and experiences from your own band days!
See what professional book reviewers have to say about Drummond!
“Patrick R. F. Blakley’s novel, Drummond, is a compassionate look at the power of music to strengthen an unsettled soul. I love how the author weaves in the magic of music.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
-Readers’ Favorite
Read the full Readers Favorite review here!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A beautifully written coming-of-age novel for teens and young adults. Teens looking for inspiration or anyone with a love or nostalgia for the marching band will find this book a welcome addition to their collection.”
-Literary Titan
Read the full Literary Titan review here!
“Blakley beautifully visualizes Drummond’s journey of self-discovery by using articulate jargon commonly found in the music world. This allows for further characterization and easy understanding of the effortless coming-of-age story.”
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-LitPick Book Review Award
Read the full LitPick review here!
“Drummond takes a unique approach to the subject of music, personal identity, and being a kid in the world. Young readers who find their place of acceptance through music will love this. What a fun story! It was compelling and tender all at once and will resonate with a lot of readers.“
- Writers Digest
“This was such a brilliantly written and captivating YA Genre Fiction read! The author expertly crafted a relatable and genuine narrative that felt alive on the page, and the imagery and tone the author captured ranged from the desolate to the passionate, depending on the protagonist’s environment and mood. The character growth was the heart and passion of the story in this book. Rating 10/10″
“Blakley’s attention to relationship-building, group efforts, and individual growth creates a winning first-person story in which Drummond learns about marching bands, music, and himself. Ideally, it will also be part of a classroom assignment, discussed for its psychological revelations as Drummond learns about his strengths and employs them in a group effort to make music.”
“Drummond: Learning to Find Himself in the Music is a solid coming-of-age story. Blakley’s extensive knowledge of music and his own experiences in his youth bring the tale to life. Drummond is an engaging and entertaining protagonist who many young readers will identify with.”
“Drummond is a book I wish I had read during my impressionable marching band years. A little neurotic and a lot funny, Blakley reminds musicians of the intricate nuances of drumming and a fun range of different marching instruments as Drummond shuffles through sections of the band before resettling on his true love, percussion.”
“We finally have a story that speaks to the formative experiences our many young adults have in school band! If you have a child in band, particularly if they are a percussionist, then they will certainly connect with this smartly-written tale. Drummond explores the shared experience of music education and marching band that our best and brightest students have and continue to love and cherish, regardless of time and place.”
- Dr. R. Ward Miller, D.M.A., Macy’s Great American Marching Band, Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps
“Blakley’s novel is charming, humorous, and an authentic look into a relatable past for all readers of any age. Drummond is an incredibly well-written coming-of-age story that hits so close to home.”
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-LitPick Top Choice Award
Read the full Top Choice review here!
If you enjoyed Drummond, please consider rating the book on Goodreads or leaving a review to share your thoughts with other readers. Your rating or review helps new readers discover the story and supports independent authors.
Teachers: Download this free Drummond book report assignment guide for your classroom. The outline helps students organize their thoughts while reflecting on the story, characters, and themes in the book.
Readers who would like a preview of the story can read an exclusive excerpt from Drummond on 1618Words.com. This special feature offers a deeper look into the world of the novel and introduces readers to the tone, characters, and themes before they dive into the full book. The excerpt provides a snapshot of Drummond’s journey as he navigates the challenges of joining the marching band, discovering his place within the group, and learning more about himself through music.
If you are curious about the story or want to get a feel for the writing style, this excerpt is a great place to start. It allows potential readers to experience part of the book exactly as it appears in the novel, giving a true sense of the humor, emotion, and musical atmosphere that shape the story. Visit 1618Words.com to read the excerpt and explore Drummond’s world before picking up a full copy of the book.
Read an exclusive excerpt on 1618words.com
Still not convinced? Check out Drummond on this music book list!
You can also see Drummond in the press! The book was featured in a handful of news outlets at release: The Boston Herald, The Sun Chronicle, IssueWire, and The Morning Herald.
Interviews!
Since the release of Drummond, the book has also been featured in several interviews that explore the inspiration behind the story and the ideas that shaped it. In these conversations, I discuss the origins of the Drummond character, the influence of marching band culture on the novel, and the broader themes of identity, confidence, and finding your place within a group. The interviews provide additional insight into the writing process, the connection between music and storytelling, and how the original Drummy story eventually evolved into a full-length novel. If you would like to learn more about the background of the book and hear more about the creative process, you can read the interviews linked below.
Note: There may be book spoilers in the above interviews. Be warned!
If you’re a teacher, you are welcome to use these books in your classroom with your students! Feel free to incorporate them into lessons, read them aloud during story time, or use the accompanying activities and worksheets to create interactive learning experiences. These materials are intended to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love of music in young learners, and you are encouraged to adapt them to fit your classroom needs. While the books and resources are freely available for educational use, please remember that they are still the intellectual property of the author, so they should not be redistributed or sold for profit. By using these books in your classroom, you help support music education and bring the fun world of Drummy Drum and related stories to life for your students.
Do you like stickers, or know a child who would like one?
Buy a Drummy Drum sticker!
These are high quality 6 mil stickers that are safe for outdoor use, so stick Drummy on
whatever you want and take him around with you! Put him on your drum folder, or on
your agenda book, or even on your sheet music (if you already have it memorized).
