High school, college bands strike up a song

We often write about local sports, particularly high school sports and the importance athletics plays with students.

It's true sports teach important lessons and can serve as a common bond between fellow students, students and parents, and high schools with alumni -- but so can other activities, including high school bands.

Fall is a busy season for students who perform in marching bands and other music groups. Halftime at local high school football games features marching groups, and many of the groups also may perform at competitions.

If you have a chance to listen to these musicians, we encourage you to do so. Don't think of it as the intermission filler but rather as an opportunity to appreciate a talent. Music, like sports, requires practice. Just like a quarterback develops muscle memory, so does the trumpet player. Just as the running back who navigates through the defense, so do marching bands who perform pieces while moving in formation.

We applaud local high schools and Southeast Missouri State University band members and instructors, along with other music groups, for their efforts.

Here's to a fun year filled with drum lines, trombone bass lines and other musical sounds of the season.