Time to get in tune

By: Faith Mills, Contributing Writer

​Chester Boren Middle School (CBMS) sixth grade band set a record with 47 new students this year.

With school well underway, these young musicians are proving that age is no barrier to the magic of music. 

Sixth grade band is the starting point of a student's band career. Led by the middle school and high school band director, Mrs. Kim Neighbors, the sixth grade band is composed of budding instrumentalists who have demonstrated a profound passion for creating harmonious melodies. 

Neighbors starts out the year by teaching her new students the basics. For the first two weeks of school students will learn all the different instruments to help them decide which one they want to play. Students also learn how to assemble and disassemble their instruments. 

Once they have mastered these skills they will start practicing with instruments for their upcoming concerts. The three concerts sixth grade will perform in are the winter concert, the pie auction and the spring concert.


Neighbors describes her students, “They are a very fun and energetic class. That has me excited because I know they will put that energy into their music.” 

The students themselves are bubbling with excitement. Gavin Kendrick, a trumpet player in the band, shared, "I play trumpet and I play it so I can enjoy the amazing sound of the instrument." While members of the sixth grade band are still getting the hang of things, they are already setting their sights on upcoming performances and events. Parents and teachers eagerly anticipate their debut concert, where the young musicians will showcase their budding talents.