Band and orchestra programs in Metro Public Schools got a huge boost today with a 655-thousand dollar donation from the Country Music Association.

Music education at Metro schools is barely funded – less than 143-thousand dollars is spread out across the district for instruments, repairs and uniforms.

McMurray Middle School is at the top Metro’s list of bands in need. Marianne Wheeler is the band director there.

Wheeler is teaching 52 fifth graders how to play their instruments, but not everyone can participate because there aren’t enough to go around.

“I had a group of about six saxophones, and I was only able to provide one. The trumpets, I had two or three kids without. I had clarinets, but no mouthpieces, some of them were chipped and cracked. So I give out what’s workable and try to piece together what’s not.”

With the CMA’s donation, McMurray Middle will be getting 56 new instruments. Wheeler is thrilled that she likely won’t have to turn any of her new students away next year.

CMA donates half of all net proceeds from its annual CMA Music Festival. This year, its donation doubled from last year. That also means double the amount of Metro schools that get help with their music education programs.