Being a band director is everything Alex White likes in an occupation.

White is the new band director at Escambia County Middle School, and is the assistant band director at the high school.

White was born in Mobile, is a Bay Minette resident and is in his first job as a band director.

He said the job has everything he likes about music and more.

“Music makes you happy,” White said. “It’s hard to describe what all music does. At least for me being a band director, it involves everything from technical skill, it involves math, it’s literature in some regard and art. There is so much to it.”

White’s love of music developed when he was 7 to 8 years old when he started taking piano lessons.

“Over the past couple of years of elementary school and in the sixth grade, I started to pick (piano) back up,” he said.

White began to play piano in the band in sixth grade, and hasn’t looked back.

He marched in the Baldwin County High School marching band, as well as at the University of South Alabama, where he majored in music education. Instead of the piano, White focused on playing percussion in both bands. He said he played the piano on the side.

As a music education major, White chose percussion as his primary instrument. Music education majors must select an instrument to focus on while in school.

When asked if he knew he wanted to be a band director, White said he started to get an inkling while in middle school.

“That’s when I got into band,” he said. “When I was in band, and when I wasn’t super into music, who knows what I was thinking when I was a kid? I remember, since probably middle school, I’ve known.”

White said every teacher he’s had as a student is helping or has helped him in his career as a band director.

“I would be willing to say every teacher I’ve had from the time I started music has been involved and checks up on me,” he said. “I’m lucky that every single teacher I’ve had keeps up with me. I wouldn’t say they’re not influential, I would say they all are.”

School started on Aug. 9 for county students, and White said the start has gone well.

“I’ve loved it so far,” he said. “The kids are really good, and seem so excited to do band. They’re ready to go.”

White is the son of Lori and Darryl White of Bay Minette.