FRIENDS OF MUSIC DONATE ELECTRONIC PIANO TO LOCAL SCHOOL

Students in teacher Brian Lange’s piano classes at Berkeley County’s Spring Mills High School are benefiting from an electronic piano donated recently by the Friends of Music.

The donation was part of an ongoing effort by the Friends to support music education in area schools.

The accompanying photo shows the students with the piano. The piano, a Casio Privia PX-360, retails for $999. It features a full-size keyboard that replicates the feel and sound of a concert grand piano. The instrument allows Mr. Lange to model piano compositions for students while the students play along on smaller classroom pianos. It is also used by advanced students, as well as on stage for school music events.

“This piano has made a very positive and musical impact on the lives of our students,” says Mr. Lange. “It is often a challenge to get funding for non-traditional and general music classes, and we are thankful to the Friends of Music for funding this request.”

Each year, the Friends of Music provides equipment donations and cash grants to music programs in Berkeley and Jefferson county schools. These gifts typically involve such items as musical instruments, sheet music, music software, books and supplies. The Friends also provide scholarships to talented students who are pursuing musical degrees.

The Friends of Music is a Shepherdstown-based, non-profit organization that was founded in 1999 to support and promote musical excellence. It supports the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, the only professional classical music orchestra in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, and one of only three such orchestras in the state.