“I’ve been told by many people that I could go far with music if I keep doing it, and I hope that I do because it’s something I enjoy and hope to keep doing.” 

Music moves KatyBeth Carter. Every piano key she has pressed has pushed her to open herself to new opportunities. Carter is a member of Davie High’s most advanced band class, can play six instruments, and actively contributes to percussion. She picked up her first instrument as a young child and has been pushed by her peers and herself to inspire those around her. Carter has dreamed of working in musical therapy, and she’s worked on her skills for the past decade.  

The teachers and directors Carter has had have been influencing her love for expressive art since she was little. As she grew, her family allowed room for her to convey her artistic skills by investing in her theater arts camps and musical instruments and providing space for Carter to flourish. 

But this support has not just come from her family. She also says people she’s met this year have supported her not only in the band but have also inspired her to keep this seed nourished and work hard towards her dreams. 

Carter loves music, and she has found people in the band who share this love and have a positive impact on her. 

A model from the National Library of Medicine shows that by the age of ten, 52% of the respondents will not have any musical engagement. As Carter grew up, she made herself one of the other 48%. She picked up the piano at the ripe age of four and worked towards the woman she is today. 

She slowly gained more instruments over time and allowed herself room to make mistakes and try again, helping her advance her skills, and enabling room for her roots to blossom. 

“I could see at the beginning snare was new to her,” senior percussionist Myka Smith says. “But the way she adapted to it, and I guess got used to it, was amazing, like she grew so fast, a lot faster than others.”

Carter plays piano, guitar, bass guitar, flute, clarinet, and percussion. On top of that, she is also learning alto saxophone. Carter has taken private lessons before but is currently taking lessons here at Davie High with her drumline instructor Jordan McCray. Though Carter spends a lot of time in her private lessons, she has also found amazing people in drumline who have had a greater impact on her than they realize.

Senior Myka Smith is one of the leaders on the drumline and has a goal to march snare for Drum Corps International. She has had such a positive impact on Carter and has influenced her to keep up her hard work because she knows it will pay off in the end. Smith finds that Carter has a talent for taking criticism well and using the criticism to adapt, allowing her to produce amazing growth in music. Smith has bonded with Carter and taught her lessons she will never forget. 

“She has influenced me a lot in very positive ways and showed me that it’s okay to make mistakes,” Carter says. “She will graduate this year along with other members, but I don’t think I will ever forget the impact she’s had on me.” 

Senior Sean Lane is also a member of the wind ensemble with Carter. He is a proud member of the band and has a passion for music. Lane has found Carter to be a good friend and an outstanding musician. 

“She’s just such an impressive young musician, and she’s only a freshman, and I’m just excited for whatever I can do to help her and her music journey,” Lane said. “I would call her a friend, and I’m happy to have embraced her passion for music.” 

Lane finds that Carter’s desire to be better inspires him and his work. There has also been an agreement in Carter having quite influential directors and teachers. Lane reveals that he also attended William Ellis Middle School and had Amanda James as band director. 

“I can attest to Mrs. James,” Lane says. “She has an awesome teaching style, and her kindness ignited my passion for music as much as KatyBeth does.”

Lane advises musicians to be open to more opportunities, to keep trying new things until you find out what fits your taste, and to have fun. It’s been clear that Carter is taking this advice and is doing everything she aspires to. Carter’s musical involvement is a representation of how one can live to their fullest potential, and this potential is deeply rooted in everyone. You just need to find your water and sprout.