Over 260 students participate in the school music program and the program is growing. Help them with a gift of much needed new music stands to replace aging ones. Any amount helps! $40.00 buys a new stand. Our K-12 kids in the school music program need these stands to hold their scores in daily Strings and Band practices, rehearsals and concerts. Stand up for school music, one stand at a time!
Keep school music growing
At the Veterans Day Celebration in November, a total of 85 music students performed — 62 from 5th to 12th grade band classes and 23 from Middle to High School Strings. Joining them, the Elementary students sang two songs, making it the largest school music performance this year. Every stand, and music chair, currently available to the music program, including stands on loan from community music groups such as the Orcas Community Band, was utilized. Cafeteria chairs were used for the Strings players. This wonderful outing for school music also highlights the needs of the school music program as it continues to grow!
Replace aging stands
The current stands are in use daily to hold music scores in Strings and Band practices, rehearsals and concerts. Some of these stands need replacing as they age and become weaker and less reliable. The older ones are also costly to repair.
More music equipment is needed
At the Veterans Day celebration, the younger Strings students sang as part of the elementary choir performance. If they had played instruments, there would not have been enough music stands for every player. Mrs Pamela Wright, OISD Elementary Music teacher and Strings Director, purchased additional stands and a rack at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year for use in the cafeteria where the very large 6th to 8th grade strings class now has to practice. There is not enough room for all the students to draw their bows in the current, very crowded, music room in the elementary school building. With more students at Middle and High School levels choosing to do music as an elective, there is a definite need for more equipment next year.
MAG’s plea
MAG’s request in the 2016 GiveOrcas Holiday Catalog is for a set of 30 quality music stands and a storage and transportation rack for the school music program. Our goal has an estimated cost of $1,200. We will purchase as many stands as we can with the funds donated through this Holiday Catalog.
If you believe school music matters and want to support quality music education at our public schools, here’s what YOU can do — Make a donation to purchase a music stand, and please participate in the five GiveOrcas Holiday Catalog contests noted below. Look out for details in the press and on our Facebook page.
Help MAG win!
NOV 29, TUES to DEC 5, MON
Guess the FLAT PERSON at www.surveymonkey.com/r/KR8MVWY. One guess per day. On Dec 6, the winning guess wins $1000 for MAG.
DEC 13, TUES
Find the FLAT PERSON, take a selfie and post on the Orcas Island Community Foundation Facebook page with the hashtag #GiveOrcas before Dec 13 for a chance to win $250 for MAG.
DEC14, WED
Donate to MAG at GiveOrcas.org on Wed December 14. The nonprofit that raises the most money on this day wins $1000.
DEC 19, MON
Donate to MAG at GiveOrcas.org on Dec 19. The nonprofit that receives the most number of donations from unique donors wins $1000. Get your friends and family involved, starting from $10 gifts.
DEC 21, WED
Find FLAT PERSON, take a selfie and post on the Orcas Island Community Foundation Facebook page with the hashtag #GiveOrcas before Dec 21 for a chance to win $250 for MAG.
Stand up for school music with us! And THANK YOU!
Music Advocacy Group 