THOMASVILLE — Children in Thomas County and surrounding areas will soon have a new after-school activity to engage in, as Dr. Karl Barton is launching the Thomasville Academy of Music, based at the Thomasville Center for the Arts. “I became aware of this absence in instrumental music lessons in the community,” Barton said. However, after much research and speaking with other music educators, group music lessons proved to be more accessible for children. His goal with the Thomasville Academy of Music is to partner with local organizations to provide needs-based and merit-based scholarships for that focused level of study. To fill out an interest form, visit Thomasville Academy of Music on Facebook.