HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
Mountain Gap Middle School's Band students have a secret weapon heading into their next competition. They have spent an entire day working on their music with the professional musicians in the Army Materiel Command Band. The AMC Band hosted the students at their new facility on Redstone Arsenal for a "Band Boot Camp."
"This is like probably one of my fondest memories of middle school," said Laura Leffel, an 8th grade student.
Leffel and her fellow band members practice their instruments at school and at home, but hearing the professional musicians play their music added a new perspective to their practice.
"One of the most important parts of learning to play music is to hear it played well. If you're a trumpet player, you should be listening to recordings of the great trumpet players. And these kids need to know what a professional band sounds like," said Chief Warrant Officer Pete Gillies, Commander and Band Master of AMC Band.
Gillies and Mountain Gap Band Director Joel Mason both said the camp will help the students improve dramatically.
"I'm the only band director at our school, and I'm a tuba player. I try to play all the instruments, but I can't play all the instruments at once. This way the students can work with a specialist on each instrument all day. Which is just a tremendous opportunity for our students," said Mason.
The Mountain Gap Band will compete in a state-wide competition at the end of February.
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