The sounds of horns and drums rattle out into the hallways at Scotts Hill elementary school every morning starting at 7:45. It is a beautiful sound that is getting stronger each year as the beginner and middle school bands grow. It is a far cry from six years ago when the program first began. Jordan Ashby, the Scotts Hill High School band director, came to Henderson County seven years ago and was faced with a daunting task. He only had 18 students signed up for band at the high school.
Mr. Ashby knew how important band was to students because he was a product of a good music education in the very small town of Slaughters, Kentucky. He was able to go to school at Murray State University and receive a degree in 2017 in Music Education Instrumental Emphasis. His love of music education led him to college and a career, and he wanted to make sure that the students at Scotts Hill had those opportunities as well. In his second year, Mr. Ashby started a voluntary beginner and middle school band at Scotts Hill Elementary School. In that year there were 22 students recruited ranging from 5th grade through 8th grade. Mr. Ashby has continued to grow the program and he has a record 36 students involved this year.
In the first year of the program, the students were in a hot gym on the stage. This year the students have been able to move into an air-conditioned room, shared with the STEM lab, there’s a lot of excitement on the hill about music education. The Henderson County School Board had a state-of-the-art band room added to Scotts Hill high school in 2020 and has provided each elementary school with a music education teacher once a week. The dynamic duo of Luke Jowers and Jordan Ashby have create an environment where kids are interested in music and music education. At this time, about 120 students are involved in 5th through 12th grade band or music classes. Mr. Ashby continues to educate himself and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Instrumental Conducting from UTEP, and should graduate in 2024.