Simpson Elementary Music Students Start Off Year on a Good Note; Thanks to a Very Generous Donation
By Julie Perine on January 04, 2014 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Simpson Elementary School is starting off the new year on a good note.
The school’s music program just received a new piano, donated to the school just before the holiday break. Music teacher Jason Noland said the timing couldn’t have been better.
“It works out nicely because I knew the piano we did have needed to be fixed or replaced,” he said. “A lot of the sound functions were no longer working.”
The digital piano – a Yamaha Clavinova CVP 35– is courtesy of Bridgeport resident Margaret “Peg” Oliverio. It was donated to the school through the community’s Child Instrument Recycle Program (C.H.I.R.P.), founded locally and overseen by Dr. Michael Hess.
“When Peggy called and said she had a ‘keyboard’ to donate to the program, I went to her house and saw how nice of a keyboard it was and the excellent condition,” Hess said. “We agreed that it would best be served in a school music program.”
Although most instruments donated through C.H.I.R.P. fall directly into the hands of individual students, a larger instrument or drum set is occasionally put into the care of an organization for ultimate benefit, he said.
Nolan said he learned about the new piano on Tuesday during the week prior to Christmas break. By Friday of that week, the piano was delivered.
It will be utilized by grades 3 through 5 for strings and choir, as well as various other classes, Nolan said.
“In the past, we have even had students compose their own stories and we let them use multiple sound functions to go along with their stories,” he said.
Last year, a piano lab was purchased for the school. The Yamaha is a very nice addition to the piano unit.
“Each student has use of a keyboard and I have a camera set up to show them where their hands should be on their own keyboards,” Nolan said.
The piano lab was purchased, in part, through a music grant. The remainder of the funding was obtained through money earmarked by the school for music education.
Receiving such a nice piano totally free of charge is a particularly nice perk, Nolan said.
“We really appreciate what (Peg) did. It is absolutely awesome,” he said.
Although only grades 3 through 5 are currently utilizing the piano, it is hoped that eventually the whole student body will benefit.
“My room is currently on the second floor of the tower and cannot be accessed by grades kindergarten through second grade,” Nolan said.
There are plans to relocate the music room in the school’s new wing for the 2014-15 school year. In that case, all grades will be using the music program and the new digital piano.
Principal Loria Reid said she is likewise very appreciative of the musical donation to the school.
Pictured top and on cover is Nolan with some of his students. Pictured just above, left to right, is Reid, Nolan and Hess.
Read more about C.H.I.R.P. HERE.
