Arts Student of the Week Natalie Fitches

This week's Arts Student of the Week, Natalie Fitches, is a percussionist who started out playing mallets and auxiliary instruments in her middle school band. Fitches joined the band in seventh grade, which put her a year behind her middle school peers. Although she found it very challenging, she took private lessons and had lots of help and support from her director.

When Fitches moved to Niwot High School she joined the world of drumline. It was a big learning curve, she said, "But it felt like it was what I was meant to do. I started on bass drum my freshman year and have played snare the other three. I started lessons again to help develop these new skills, but after some time it felt like second nature. On top of this, I continued to play concert percussion in other ensembles at Niwot."

Fitches was selected as Arts Student of the Week by her music teacher, Wade Hendricks. "Natalie is a fantastic senior leader (Drumline Captain) for the NHS Drumline," Hendricks said. "She is one of the most dependable students with whom I have ever had the pleasure of working. She is also a fine player, musician, and a great role model for younger members."

Early on, Fitches was influenced by the other percussionists in her class, and she pushed herself to be as good as them. She also found inspiration for her playing in Sarah Wagner, a drummer who has come to work with the school's class many times. Wagner is on the Denver Nuggets' drumline, the Broncos' drumline, and many other drumline groups, including an all-female line. "She plays snare just like me," Fitches said. "Her incredible skill and attitude towards drumming has really inspired me to push myself to be the best musician I can possibly be."

According to Hendricks, Fitches traveled with the NHS Orchestra to the Baltic countries and Finland this summer to perform and tour. "I know her presence on that trip was what helped make it such a success," he added.

"This was an incredible, once in a lifetime experience," Fitches said. "While touring the Baltic countries we got to perform in churches that were multiple centuries old with crazy murals all over the walls and ceilings. At both performances we had a full audience and got standing ovations and multiple encores. We had the opportunity to use professional equipment and perform for the citizens of Lithuania and Latvia. We prepared so hard for those two performances, and it was so rewarding to put on such a good show. It was an experience I will never forget."

Her experience at NHS has been very positive and Fitches feels she has grown as a musician and as a person in the last three years, from being behind many of her peers to being the drum captain for two years in a row. She takes part in many of the music programs that NHS has to offer, and she finds the environment welcoming. "It pushes everyone to be the best musician they can be. I am very grateful for all the opportunities I have been given here at Niwot."

Fitches loves having the ability to "whip out a cool beat or a new rhythm" and create whatever she wants from it. Drumming gives her the outlet to be creative and make mistakes. When she makes music, Fitches says, she feels like the notes are moving through her whole body and in that moment, nothing else matters. "It is a feeling I wouldn't trade for the world."

Just last month, Fitches had the first marching band show of her senior year. "This night was especially memorable," she said, "because it was my last first show. In years past the first show is always a mess, but this year I felt the most confident I have ever felt walking off the field. I worked so hard to make it the best, and most fun night yet, and I feel like I did just that."

Outside of music, Fitches loves to dance and does outdoor activities such as camping and going on waterfall hikes. She also enjoys playing board games with her family and cooking. In addition, Fitches is a scare-actor at Terror in the Corn and she thoroughly enjoys it.

In the future Fitches would love to have a career involving people with special needs. She is passionate about helping others and she appreciates every chance she gets to help in the special ed room. At the moment Fitches plans to attend CU Boulder, where she hopes to balance her studies with playing in the Golden Buffalo Marching Band.

"I know that whatever Natalie puts her energy into," Hendricks said, "She will be successful."