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A high-school band program empowers students' self-expression.
Interest in Clay County's Central High School band program has
been steadily increasing. Last year, Grades 7-12 had 120 students
involved in band, which is the only music program in the county.
Recently, this uptick pushed the number of musicians above the
number of instruments available. Since participation in the arts
brings multiple advantages — aiding academic performance,
boosting self-confi dence and more — too many trumpet players,
drummers and fl autists can be a good problem to have. But it's still a
problem, and one the Alabama Power Foundation helped solve.
With a grant to purchase the additional instruments needed, more
than 100 band students are now marching to a better beat, a fact
that has the school's Director of Bands Tony McCarley whistling
a happy tune. "Our band program is really key for our kids," he
says. The trombone player and former "band kid" knows that band
brings individual benefi ts, giving students a positive way to express
themselves. "But being a part of a group and learning to be team
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