Making Music: Band brings students together at Garcia Middle School

Here’s some music for your ears: About 375 students are participating in band this school year at Hector Garcia Middle School, which is up from the 160 students who participated last year and 80 students the year before.

Dallas ISD is aiming to get all students to participate in at least one extracurricular activity. Garcia Middle School Principal Gary Auld said extracurricular activities such as band have a noticeable impact on the students.

“It helps with academics, it helps with their self-esteem, and it gets them more involved socially and with the culture of the school,” Auld said.

The Garcia Middle School band last year earned the first school's first-ever UIL Sweepstakes award last year, which is one of the highest honors a middle school band can earn in the state of Texas.