Band Practice in San Juan

For weeks in Nicaragua, no matter what city or state I was in, I kept hearing intense drum line practices. I found out that every band in every town starts practicing weeks in advance for the big independence day parades in their respective areas. Not only that, each band competes with every other in the surrounding town for bragging rights as the best band, from technical ability to flair.

When I was in my first town, learning Spanish at the language school, I kept trying to catch a practice with my camera but I kept missing it! So when I was in San Juan del Sur and heard drums I was determined to track them down. I followed the sounds to a school, which looked like a big cement box but had an inner courtyard where the band was practicing. I thought, What the hell!, and knocked on the door. A man came up, and I asked in my Spanish if I could come in, watch the practice and take some pictures. He said, Of course! (I swear Nicaraguans are the nicest people, if you’re interested in learning about them they will let you in with open arms.)

One of my favourites is of the only girl in this entire drum line, who was killing it. The next day, I walked passed the school at the same kids were practicing outside in their uniforms, along with the girls dancing along to the drums. I loved catching the ones who were totally working it and giving it their all.