More than 100 young musicians from the Bunnell High School marching band in Stratford spent the last days of their summer vacation practicing for fall competitions.

The students took part in a summer camp every Wednesday to prepare for the upcoming school year. Instructors say the kids learned the music and marching sets for their whole show in the first two days of the camp.

The theme for the band's show this year is "Pictures at an Exhibition." The band will perform at football game halftime shows.

Instructors say the students are learning much more than music and marching. They say the kids are learning skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

"To be part of an organization and a program that teaches you how to coexist and how to make something together that you can be the best musician possible, but that doesn't matter if you're unable to fit what you're doing in with the group here," says percussion instructor Brian Kowalsky.

Bunnell's first competition this year will be at Brien McMahon High School on Sept. 15. Then in December the band will fly down to Orlando to march in the Super Holiday Florida Citrus Parade.