Student with Down syndrome sits in with local band
To escape the rat race of Miami, Doug Campbell and his wife would drive up to Stuart– 2016's happiest little seaside town– on weekends and enjoy alfresco lunches at many of the area’s waterside restaurants.
Never in a million years did Campbell think his son, who just started taking drum lessons about a year ago, would make his debut as a drummer at one of those establishments.
But that's exactly what Campbell’s son Andy, who is 41 and has Down syndrome, did earlier this month— with one of the most popular dance bands on the Treasure Coast and to emphatic applause.
When the Campbells made the permanent move to Stuart a few months ago, they searched for a new drum teacher and found Jonathan Cummings.
“Normally you don’t just trust anyone with a special needs person,” said Doug Campbell. “But Jonathan Cummings is the ultimate professional when it comes to music and a wonderful human being.”
Cummings, a full-time musician who has been teaching off and on for most of his adult life, didn’t think twice about taking on a special needs student.
Throughout the years, Cummings offered his students the opportunity to sit in with him at a gig as a way of motivating them. Andy is the only student who rose to the occasion.
“Heck, yeah!” Andy told Cummings and began counting down the weeks.
Cummings plays drums for Quick Fix, a five-piece band known for packing the dance floor. When Cummings asked his bandmates about Andy sitting in on a song, the answer was a resounding yes.
“My response was instant,” said Tom Hoffelder who plays keyboards and saxophone for the band. “When and where should we do it?”
Andy’s drumming debut came about six weeks later. Outfitted in a band shirt and fighting off the jitters, Andy took the stage June 2 to the tune of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” at the Sailor's Return in Stuart.
Andy sat front and center in the spotlight for the full house, while Cummings sat in the shadows, on a snare drum, helping Andy keep time. Andy's joy was palpable and his moment of triumph priceless.
“We get to touch people’s lives every day," Cummings said about he and his fellow musicians. "And I thought, why not give Andy that opportunity?”
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The video can be seen in it's entirety here.