From Sandy Run, to the Linc, and Back

Sandy Run Middle School Band Director Sean Kennedy has been bringing professional musicians into his classroom for the past couple of months. Earlier this week, the school’s percussion students heard from the director of the Philadelphia Eagles Drumline … who once sat where they were sitting.

It was under strange circumstances in which Kennedy reunited with his former student. He said his brother-in-law had given him tickets to an Eagles preseason game and when he looked up at the stadium’s monitor, he saw his former student Andrew Moffatt.

“I was sitting there, and suddenly this drumline came out, so I started paying attention, and on the Jumbotron, there he was, playing snare drum,” Kennedy said. “I hadn’t talked to him in a couple of years, and I said, ‘Is that Andrew Moffet?’ Then I emailed him and I said, ‘Hey, were you in the Eagles drumline?’” 

Moffatt said he had been involved in Upper Dublin music programs throughout his school career. He met Kennedy in his junior year.

Moffatt took questions from the students, showed them some drumming exercises and then played some excerpts from what he performs on game day.

Kennedy said having the students meet professional musicians breaks down the wall between performers and the audience; he added that one of his teaches was a professional musician. 

“I think it’s inspiring. That’s what inspired me — teachers like that,” Kennedy said. “My drum set teacher in high school played for Sinatra. All of a sudden he said he had a gig during the weekend, I asked him where, and he said, ‘Atlantic City for Sinatra.’”

“I thought, real people do this?” Kennedy continued. “It took the wall down between people you see on stage and the audience and that what I hope Andrew did for these kids. He was in these seats a while ago, and now he’s there.”

Moffatt said he’s in charge drumline personnel and what’s played. And he said that he gets a kick out of speaking to students.

“I love teaching and getting inside kids’ brains,” he said. “Also, it’s especially fun coming back here. This is where I went to middle school.”

Moffatt’s drumline is relatively new, having started four years ago. Initially, the drumline was relegated to the beginning of the game and playing for tailgaters, but Moffatt said the drumline will have a more pronounced role during the games this season.

When Moffatt’s not performing or speaking to children, he works for the cymbal company Zildjian.