‘Absolutely essential’: Wilson County Schools investing nearly $200,000 into middle school band programs

WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Wilson County middle schools will be cranking up the music this fall.

The district is using grant funding to make a massive investment into their band programs: over $190,000. That funding will be used right away for nearly 100 new musical instruments.

“By the schools being able to provide those — it’s going to reduce barriers to participation for kids,” said Wilson County schoolboard member Carrie Pfeiffer. “The relationships that kids build in those art programs, with each other and with the director, it’s really something important. We know from research that the more engaged kids are in school, in extracurricular activities, the more successful they’re going to be academically as well.”

Each of Wilson County’s seven middle schools have put in requests for instruments they need. Pfeffer said that each school will receive those requested instruments before the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

This isn’t the only new investment from Wilson County schools into the arts. Pfeiffer added that the district is also searching for a Fine Arts Coordinator — someone who can help their students network and establish connections within the arts world.

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“I do have high expectations of that position and what they will be able to do in terms of building relationships with art institutions in our community,” said Pfeiffer. “I think that it is absolutely essential to have a well-rounded school program that includes high-quality art opportunities for kids.”

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