FRIENDS OF MUSIC DONATE XYLOPHONE TO MARTINSBURG SCHOOL

The Friends of Music have donated a xylophone to Rosemont Elementary School in Martinsburg.

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

The school’s music teacher, Patricia Cooper, had requested the instrument for use in all her classes, from pre-Kindergarten through Third Grade. She said it would be used with the school’s other percussion instruments to help students learn about and create music covering a variety of ranges.

“I am very excited to receive this xylophone, which will add so much more to our music program,” Ms. Cooper said. “It would have taken my whole budget to buy one.”

The xylophone is a Studio 49 Series 1000 SX Soprano model. It retails for $400. The accompanying photo shows one of Ms. Cooper’s first graders trying it out.

Each year, the Friends of Music provide an opportunity for Berkeley and Jefferson county music teachers to apply for grants to support their student programs. The organization typically awards grants for such items as musical instruments, sheet music, music software, books and supplies. The Friends also provide scholarships to talented students who are pursuing degrees in music.