Negative words fuel Erath senior’s drive

Seventeen year-old drummer Caleb Fitch will be graduating this year from Erath High School.
He began to have a passion for drumming around his 6th-grade year, but didn’t excel until he attended Erath. Since starting drumming, he has been in the honor band.
His first year at Erath High was for his 11th-grade year, and typically switching schools is never a good thing, but not with this drummer. After hearing negative words about his drumming abilities, Fitch used that as fuel and decided to get better and better, and since attending Erath High, he has.
“Before coming here to Erath High, I had people saying that I wasn’t a good drummer,” Fitch said. “That made me push more; even though I knew I was good at it, I had to get even better.”
He said that Erath welcomed him with open arms, and it gave him the confidence he has today.
“As a kid, my dreams were a little different, I mean, yeah, I loved to drum, but if I had to have a real job or a different job, I wanted to be in real estate,” he said. “Of course, I’d love to be a professional drummer, but I didn’t have the want to be a doctor or a lawyer; that wasn’t me.”
Booking gigs would be ideal and a dream for Fitch, but looking at the bigger picture, he has his eye on a goal.
“I actually have an academic scholarship and a band scholarship to Northwestern State University,” said Fitch. “I’ll be majoring in Computer Information Systems, that’s my go-to right now, but as for what’s next, I’m not sure yet.”
Even though he hasn’t made up his mind for a career goal, figuring out along the way is okay with him.
“It’ll be an interesting experience, and I’m happy that I get that opportunity,” he said.
Being a doctor or a lawyer wasn’t ‘him’, and being the only musically inclined member in his family can potentially open many doors for him, especially with what he has done and experienced thus far.
Having a whopping 12,000 views on one of his YouTube videos online, people could find another gem on his channel.
Fitch can also sing.
“It’s not something I do much, but my family loves to get me to sing during the holidays or in front of people,” he said. “But I’m a shy guy, and singing isn’t comfortable for me, but ask me to drum, that I can do.”
Having a supportive family means a lot to Fitch, and it’s something that he credits being content with his life decisions so far.
“I know that if I went on the road to pursue a music career, my family would be just as proud and root me on,” he said. “And it doesn’t stop at drums because if you put any percussion instrument in front of me, I’ll know what I’m doing.”
In fact, before the pandemic hit, he and his friends wanted to start a zydeco band. “You never know, I love music so much it’s not out of the question; not yet,” he said.
When COVID hit, Fitch said that his parents didn’t want him to stay idle at home. They didn’t want him to put his sticks down and be out of practice. That is when he started the YouTube channel.
“I didn’t think videos of me drumming would get so many good views,” he said. “Music and drumming to me is felt, so I like to Free-style more than I like to read music, so that’s what I do in my videos, I freestyle.”
“I also like teaching people,” he said. “At my previous schools, I was told I wasn’t good enough or good at all, and I don’t want others thinking that they aren’t, so I like to teach them.”
Once he moved to Erath High, he soared. “I’ve always made honor band, so I had to be good enough for that.”
Last year, Fitch made 1st chair Alternate All-State, which made him push even more to make it to 3rd chair this year. “Having supportive parents and a supportive school helped me push,” he said.
Fitch is no stranger to hard work, either. In his spare time, he is not only a private tutor, but he also helps his Godfather from time to time when he does lights and sounds for Hunter Hayes concerts.
“That is such a cool thing to help with, and it just makes you want to be on that stage,” Fitch said. “Maybe one day.”
Fitch also helps his dad on his shrimp boat from time to time.
Hobbies such as fishing, duck hunting, boar hunting and deer hunting keep Fitch busy when he isn’t studying, drumming or tutoring. He may very well be a jack of all trades, but whatever he does, he is confident he will make the right choice for that particular time.
“My 6-year-old little brother is the coolest, most awesome kid, and he looks up to me,” Fitch said. “He wants to be just like me, and that is a huge honor. I want him to be proud of me.”
Keeping a 3.5, and higher, GPA throughout the school has its benefits. Not only in scholarships but in his confidence.
“I just got invited to the Academic Banquet for school,” he said. “That’s the kind of example I want to leave with my brother and anyone who looks up to me.”