By KATHY COPELAND / Community Columnist

“One, two, three, four…five, six, seven, eight!” The band students at Vincent’s Middle High School must hear the echoing of that statement in their sleep. “OK, that was real good, now let’s see it again,” shouts Landon Manning, the band’s director.

Band camp apparently is fun even in the scorching hot temperatures of July in Alabama. Explaining this was crayon day, Manning pointed out every group is a different color. “For example, the flute section is pink,” he said.

Manning said 71 students are in Vincent’s band this year. While band camp is a requirement for those in the band, participation in band is not. Music seems to be a shared love at the school. Students don’t appear to view music in competition with any of their other interests.  Some students are in ROTC and band, while some are on the football team and march in the band during halftime.

The back-to-school energy is in the halls and out of the fields in Vincent, with football practice, teachers setting up classrooms and the band practicing both inside and out.

Vincent’s marching band will be ready for its first home game halftime march on Aug. 24. Even though the uniforms they wear are 17 years old, they will wear them proudly and perform their hearts out.

“Our kids are special. We are really blessed this year with both the talent and attitude of these kids,” Manning said. “We are exploring ways to generate money for new uniforms.  The challenge is that you obviously cannot replace them a few at the time. To replace uniforms will require the funding to purchase 100 of them. That’s a tall mountain to climb.”

Manning said alumni are generous to the school, and the band has a few activities planned that should help it reach this goal.

In the meantime, the Vincent Marching Band has completed band camp and will be ready for the Shelby County Showcase of Bands on Sept. 11 at Helena High School.