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Spartan News is a presentation of Mason County Central Schools in partnership with Mason County Press.
SCOTTVILLE — Mason County Central’s Scottville Elementary music students will no longer have to learn rhythm skills on homemade instruments. A recent grant from the Scottville Clown Band, helped provide the remainder of funds needed to purchase 25 world drums and auxiliary percussion instruments for the kindergarten through second grade students.
The total cost of the instruments was $8,000 with $5,000 contributed through the school’s general fund along with a $2,500 grant from the Scottville Clown Band. The remainder was donated by music teacher April Keith.
“I just wanted the kids to have the opportunity to learn on actual instruments,” Keith said. “They not only learn music skills but they will also learn responsibility. I am so thankful to the school and the Clown Band for this investment.”
Superintendent Jeff Mount agreed that the instruments provide a better learning opportunity.
“Mrs. Keith invited me to her room at Scottville Elementary to show me the homemade drums she had been using,” Mount said. “She then showed me her proposal for the new instruments. It was an easy decision to approve. We are invested in providing elementary education to our students. Learning at that level not only inspires many of the students to join band when they reach sixth grade but also gives them basic skills that are used in other facets of learning.”
The Scottville Clown Band annually provides grants to public education music programs in Mason, Lake, Oceana, and Manistee counties through its Raymond Schulte Memorial Students Services program, named after Ray Schulte who re-formed the Clown Band in 1947 after a hiatus during World War II. The band’s roots date back to 1903.
“Part of the Clown Band’s mission as a non-profit charitable organization is to provide grants and scholarships to elementary and secondary performing arts students,” said Rob Alway, treasurer of the Clown Band. “We believe that music is a life-long pursuit and that is evident in the fact that the current ages of the Clown Band range from 14 to 102.”
Funds for the student services program are provided by through the band’s general fund along with its George F. Wilson Memorial Endowment at the Community Foundation for Mason County and donations from the public.
To contribute, donations may be send to Scottville Clown Band, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI or directly to the endowment: Community Foundation for Mason County, 119 S. Rath Ave., Ludington, MI 49431 (foundation checks need to be made out to the foundation with Clown Band endowment in memo) or online: www.mason-foundation.org.
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