By Sarah Cook

The Selma Times-Journal

 

Discipline, dedication, consistency and practice. These are the four core principles that Sanchezz Brown, band director at Keith High School, wishes to instill in his students this year.

Although the band program experienced a setback when the band room caught fire on July 22 damaging many instruments, Sanchezz said he is moving forward and establishing a strong foundation to rebuild the program.

“Right now we don’t have instruments as far as 40 kids to play on,” Sanchezz said. “But what I’ve planned to do for the next nine weeks, until I can get the instruments and those sorts of things fixed, is to teach music theory.”

Going in to the new school year, there were 30 students in the band, Sanchezz said. But after some spirited recruiting the first day of school, that number has grown to 56. There is still a shortage of instruments though.

“The marching percussion instruments all need to be replaced and just more instruments all around as far as woodwind and brass,” Sanchezz said. “I could use a lot more of those just so I can have future room for growth to build this program.”

Since the band room is not in usable condition, the program has temporarily moved to another area of the school. Many community members have donated instruments, music stands and given monetary donations.

“Right now I’m setting up a solid foundation for these kids,” Sanchezz said. “So if this were to happen again, we won’t have such a set-back.”

Sanchezz, who is a recent graduate of UAB, said he hopes in the future for students to have their own instruments that they can take home.

“I would like to create musicians and professional performers out of these kids,” Sanchezz said. “I want them to understand that hard work pays off.”

Through building a strong foundation and educating his students to the fullest, Sanchezz said he hopes to create a championship marching band at Keith.

“We’re working really hard here at Keith to get this program up and running, and we want to give this community something to be proud of,” Sanchezz said.