Since its founding, the Caledonian Pipe and Drum Band has become a meeting place for school events. It holds an annual homecoming parade, leads the soccer team from the field to the dressing room, and honors athletes at homecoming. In addition, students from elementary through high school can participate in the Strike percussion ensemble from Kraft Meadows High School music teacher Don Raaimakers. While the Caledonian Pipe and Drum Ensemble is completing its first decade, the percussion ensemble has been around for more than two years. As a tribute to Caledonia High School’s mascot, the Scottish Fighters, the school has a thriving flute and drum band founded by bandleader Kyle Welfair. “During my 20 years at Caledonia High School, the administration has always been very supportive of the music program,” said Jim Crites, assistant principal. However, according to Wellfair, one of his favorite performances is the Armed Forces Thanksgiving Parade, which fosters bonds within the pipe band collective. “When you’re in a band, you get a lot of attention,” Wellfair says. Like the trumpet and drum band, the strike is popular with students and faculty. Founded in 1997 with six his private students, Raaymakers Strike registered as a nonprofit organization in 2000 and brought it to Caledonia in 2004 when he started teaching at Kraft Meadows. After some contact with adult bagpipers in the community, Wellfare decided to make bagpipes for everyone, including himself. “I’ve seen several strikes over the years,” says Crites, who played percussion in his youth. “They’ve really supported us by giving us equipment and giving our students extra opportunities to study all over the state,” Welfair says. The June concerts feature student music by composers such as David Maslanka, David Gillingham, Ivan Trevino and Christopher Rouse, as well as steel drums, Japanese drums and the popular music of bands such as Blink-182 and Jimmy Eat World. Smith, now deceased, introduced Dorothy Wilson, who played trumpet and drum for the Muskegon Regional Police and also became a volunteer instructor. Wellfair hired Dan Smith, a local flutist and friend of the Caledonia band leader, to teach him and his first students.