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1 1 4 | M A C O N M A G A Z I N E . C O M A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9 The Maconites tell our stor y. This project was originally funded by The Downtown Challenge Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia created to implement the Macon Action Plan through a series of grants to local businesses, nonprof its, individuals and government entities. To read the Macon Action Plan, visit MaconActionPlan.com. See full stories at: themaconites.com I TEACH GENERAL MUSIC, PRE-K THROUGH FIFTH. The Bibb County Honor Choir is a districtwide audition choir. It's relatively inexpensive. It's an annual membership of $16 a year, and it's this really beneficial program provided by the Fine Arts Department with Mr. Bridges and gives them an opportunity to have some extracurricular singing going on. It's usually 70 to 80 kids, and they meet in this room every Thursday, in the afternoons. It's a lot of fun. It's something that I've always wanted to do 'cause I was in the Atlanta Boy Choir when I was 7. Did that for two years. Went to Spivey Hall Children's Choir in Morrow, Georgia. And I was there for another eight. As soon as I got this job and realized that I was only gonna teach kids to sing, you know, half the time it wasn't enough. I was given the opportunity by Mr. Bridges after my first year. Well, I like being in this position because it gives me an opportunity to show young boys that they have a place in the choir, 'cause I was always one of three. So, this year it's 45 children, at Alex II ... and at least half of them are boys. It's proven that music stimulates the brain in multiple ways all at once. I mean, for me, why music matters is because it's a creative outlet. And it's something that gives, especially children, a feeling of control. " OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK DOWNTOWN 522 Cherry Street • 478.227.7785 • www.travisjeanemporium.com Downtown Macon's largest selection of Georgia made goods HANDCRAFTED GIFTS FROM THE SOUTH I do my best to reach out to the kids who have a rough day. Teachers know they can send a kid to my class who's having a rough day. They have somebody in their corner. I have my eye out. They're not the 'bad kid.' They're the kid with stuff goin' on at home. Satisfied? Never. No, never. I am always trying to improve. There was only one thing my parents agreed on, and it was that I hung the moon." – DAVID