Atlanta Daily World

FORT VALLEY. Ga.-Fort Valley State College held its eighth annual High School Band Clinic April 13-14. 2000 young people all arrayed and dressed in colorful uniforms and representing 42 high schools. participated in the clinic.

The clinic seeks to help young Georgia musicians by: raising their standards of musical performance developing a high degree of loyalty for the band program, hearing other bands perform, maintaining public interest in and respect for good music, experiencing life on the college campus, broadening their interests in the best band literature, and fostering interest in band music throughout the state.

Interest in the clinic has grown so much since the clinic began that the college has set aside two days for the event. Twenty-one bands participated each day; but, because of the heavy rain only, those who came the second day had the distinction of displaying their prowess and precision drilling in the parade and other outdoor activities.

Guest conductor for the clinic band was Earl A. Starling, Director of Bands at Washington High School in Atlanta. Special consultants were: Earl Beach from the Department of Music Education of University of Georgia, who worked with woodwinds and reeds: Paul Ferrin, music consultant for the Rutan Music Company. who worked with the brass section: James Rutan, president of Rutan Music Company, who was consultant for percussion. Mr. Rutan is percussionist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. A. D. Wyatt from Price High School was consultant for drum majors and majorettes.

The clinic band was composed of three organized bands instead of a few members from each band. In succeeding years, different bands throughout the state will make up the clinic band in order to permit broader unit participation.