Mary Bird, Midwest Talent Search coordinator for Jefferson Whittier School, in the School District of the City of Pontiac, Michigan, writes: "We are an urban school on a very limited budget, with a predominantly black student body."
“Giving the gift of music
Sunday, March 7, 2010
By Diana Dillaber Murray
Pontiac music instructor Clifford Sykes has been teaching students in his string instrument class at Jefferson Whittier Elementary how to play a violin since the semester began. Just one problem — no violins on which to practice. But all that changed with a donation of 20 violins and four cellos from Dan McCourt, of McCourt Music in Waterford Township and Berkley. 'Pontiac is not immune to what is going on in all the schools,' McCourt said about the cuts in state funding and loss of property tax revenue as the result of the struggling economy.
“'Pontiac has such a need. Clifford had a class and no instruments. And we had some in storage,' McCourt said. Pontiac Superintendent Thomas Maridada II encourages partnerships with businesses that provide enrichment that students might otherwise not experience. He and the Pontiac Board of Education plan to honor McCourt for his generosity at the March 15 meeting. 'In the strings class, we have both fifth and sixth grades,' said Sykes, who teachers music to 700 Jefferson students. Mostly he teaches general music, but he has a sixth grade band class. The fifth grade band class was canceled for lack of instruments.
“However, not having violins in the string class, did not prevent instruction or diminish the children’s interest, Sykes said. 'I was doing a combination of teaching some basic music language and symbols, lines, spaces, whole notes, half notes, rhythms, and the kids kept coming. I was using professional videos of string groups who play everything.' Then he took the children to see the Sphinx Organization’s 13th annual Sphinx Competition in Detroit on Feb. 7, where young black and Hispanic people competed with their musical talent. They were in awe, Sykes said, and their motivation grew.
“Fifth-grader Mercedes Davy said, 'My experience at the Sphinx concert is like a dream I never dreamed to dream before. I had the time of my life. When I heard them play, I was amazed. 'I said to myself, I will be able to play exactly like them,' said Mercedes, who decided that would be the focus of her career.” “The children had their first real class with the instruments on Thursday, starting with basic steps such as listening to Sykes tune the instrument and using the bow.” “He (Sykes) will not only put them to good use, but will ensure they are taken care of,” said McCourt, who said he felt good donating the instruments to Sykes, whom he has known for years. [The Founder/President of The Sphinx Organization is violinist Aaron P. Dworkin (b. 1970), who is profiled at AfriClassical.com]
Diana Dillaber MurrayOakland Press
Clifford Sykes
String Instrument Class Lacked Violins
Dan McCourt
Sphinx Competition
1 comment:
It's great that someone would do something like this.
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