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News We Love: How a school for the blind started a marching band

"If we don't try, we'll never know if we could."

News We Love: How a school for the blind started a marching band

"If we don't try, we'll never know if we could."

SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF FOOTBALL TEAM OPENS THE SEASON TONIGHT, THE PLAYERS WILL SEE SOMETHING THEY NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE, MUSICIANS FROM THE ALABAMA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND MARCHING ONTO THE FIELD. IAN: ONLY ON WVTM13, RICK KARLE TELLS US HOW SOME TALENTED STUDENTS ARE DETERMINED TO GIVE FANS A GAME DAY EXPERIENCE THEY WILL NEVER FORGET. ♪ >> HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AND MARCHING BANDS A PERFECT COMBINATION, AND AS THE PLAYERS AT THE ALABAMA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF HIT THE GRIDIRON, THEY WILL SEE A SIGHT THEY’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. >> IF WE DON’T TRY, WE’LL NEVER KNOW IF WE COULD. >> WHAT THE KIDS FROM THE ALABAMA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND ARE TRYING IS A LEAP OF FAITH. >> WHEN MR. BELL FIRST BROUGHT IT UP I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A MYTH. >> OH, IT’S NO MYTH. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, THE MUSICIANS FROM THE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND HAVE FORMED A MARCHING BAND THEIR GOAL? TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF FOOTBALL PLAYERS WITH A PRE-GAME AND HALFTIME SHOW. CHAD BELL/BAND DIRECTOR SOT >> IT’S WAY BEYOND THEIR COMFORT ZONE, AND THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW WHO HAVE HAD SOME DIFFICULTIES BUT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH IT. >> WORKING THROUGH MOVING WHILE PLAYING SOMEHOW STAYING IN FORMATION AND PULLING THOUGH. >> YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY AND WALK AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT OUT OF LINE, MAKE SURE YOU ARE EVEN WITH EVERYBODY. >> IT’S PRETTY CONFUSING BUT MR BELL TOLD US TO LOOK AT THE PERSON’S NOSE NEXT TO US AND THAT KIND OF HELPS. >> CONFUSING OF COURSE BUT THESE KIDS HAVE FOUGHT THROUGH CHALLENGES ALL THEIR LIVES AND IT’S THE MUSIC THAT DRIVES THEM. ♪ >> REGARDLESS OF HOW BIG THE OBSTACLE, WHEN MUSIC GETS IN YOUR BLOOD IT NEVER LEAVES. >> I LIKE TO PROVE THAT MUSIC MOVES EVERYBODY THERE IS NO -- EVERYBODY TO DO EVERYTHING. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO MUSIC. MUSIC IS POWERFUL. >> A TALL TASK IT IS BUT WITH HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THESE BLIND MUSICIANS ARE GETTING IT DONE WITH DRIVE AND HEART. >> IT’S A BIG TASK BUT IT’S MADE FOR PEOPLE WHO WEAR BIGGER PANTS BUT WE’RE ALL FILLING OUR SHOES AND I THINK WE ARE COMING ALONG PRETTY GOOD. >> IT’S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK BUT THESE STUDENTS WILL PERSEVERE AND BRING THE DEAF FOOTBALL PLAYERS SUPPORT RIGHT THERE ON THE FIELD, DAYMION -- ON THE FIELD. >> WE’RE AT A DEAF SCHOOL SO A LOT OF THAT THEY CAN’T HEAR, BUT WE’RE OUT HERE THEY CAN SEE US SO IT’S A LITTLE MORE HYPE AND IT WILL BE A LOT MORE FUN. >> AND THE BAND MEMBERS? THEY WILL RECEIVE SOME ACCOLADES AS WELL. >> WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN YOUR CORNER AND ROOTING FOR YOU IT FEELS PRETTY GOOD, PRETTY GREAT YOU FORGET ABOUT YOUR LIMITATIONS YOU FORGET ABOUT YOUR EYESIGHT, YOU FORGET ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL AND LIVE LIFE TO YOUR FULLEST. >> STEP BY STEP, DEDICATED MUSICIANS ARE GIVING THEIR FANS A BAND TO ADMIRE AND A SEASON TO REMEMBER. >> SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PUSH YOURSELF FORWARD IN ORDER TO MOVE SOMEWHERE YOU HAVE TO MOVE ONE FOOT TO MAKE THE OTHER ONE MOVE TOO. >> AND A THE BIGGEST FEAT EVER WILL FULFILL A BAND DIRECTOR’S DREAM. >> THAT’S MY DESIRE TO JUST LET THE KIDS SHOW WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN DO AND THAT’S INSPIRATIONAL RIGHT THERE. >> WVTM1
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News We Love: How a school for the blind started a marching band

"If we don't try, we'll never know if we could."

What the kids from the Alabama School for the Blind are trying is a leap of faith. High school football and marching bands are a perfect combination, and as the players at the Alabama School For The Deaf hit the gridiron, they will see a sight they've never seen before."If we don't try, we'll never know if we could," said ASB Band Director Chad Bell.For the first time in history, ASB musicians have formed a marching band with the goal of supporting the Alabama School for The Deaf Silent Warriors football team with a pre-game and halftime show.It's a tall task, but with hard work and dedication, these blind musicians are getting it done with drive and heart."It's way beyond their comfort zone, and there have been a few who have had some difficulties, but we are working through it," Bell said."When you have someone in your corner and rooting for you, it feels pretty good, pretty great," said senior drummer Rin Pollard. "You forget about your limitations; you forget about your eyesight; you forget about your school and live life to your fullest."The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) is the world’s most comprehensive education, rehabilitation, and service program serving individuals of all ages who are deaf, blind, deaf-blind, and multi-disabled.

What the kids from the Alabama School for the Blind are trying is a leap of faith. High school football and marching bands are a perfect combination, and as the players at the Alabama School For The Deaf hit the gridiron, they will see a sight they've never seen before.

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"If we don't try, we'll never know if we could," said ASB Band Director Chad Bell.

For the first time in history, ASB musicians have formed a marching band with the goal of supporting the Alabama School for The Deaf Silent Warriors football team with a pre-game and halftime show.

It's a tall task, but with hard work and dedication, these blind musicians are getting it done with drive and heart.

"It's way beyond their comfort zone, and there have been a few who have had some difficulties, but we are working through it," Bell said.

"When you have someone in your corner and rooting for you, it feels pretty good, pretty great," said senior drummer Rin Pollard. "You forget about your limitations; you forget about your eyesight; you forget about your school and live life to your fullest."

The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) is the world’s most comprehensive education, rehabilitation, and service program serving individuals of all ages who are deaf, blind, deaf-blind, and multi-disabled.