LSMAF brings fall programs to Lopez

Carolyn and I are excited about the school music partnership our Lopez School Music Advocacy Foundation has created. This, our fourth year, and by far our most productive, will see new programs implemented.

We begin this school year with a three-day visit by master teacher Hawkeye Herman. He’s worked in 28 states, eight countries and over 500 school districts. The public library is hosting a presentation and discussion with Hawkeye on Oct. 13.

I first met Hawkeye four years ago at the annual International Blues Foundation event in Memphis where was recognized as Educator of the Year. Hawkeye has agreed to be on the LSMAF advisory board.

The Garfield High School Jazz band returns Oct. 9, to Woodmen Hall to raise funds in support of our foundation’s school music enhancement effort. This, their third year here, follows a first place finish in the Essentially Ellington competition at Lincoln Center, New York for the second year in a row, the only band to have accomplished this. All proceeds are a benefit to Lopez students.

Lou Pray and the library board have just adopted the foundation’s experimental Check out the Music project, wherein we donated and maintained a variety of instruments to be checked out in the same way you would a book. Our students will be supported in their music literacy through enhanced library resources.

Kirk Fuhrmeister, owner of “Isle Be Jammin” music store and studio in Friday Harbor is generously sharing his time and expertise to guide our acquisition of instruments, create effective programs and to provide lessons.

Another new program is our foundation’s gift of ukuleles and lessons along with personalized gig bags to each fourth grade student, with lessons throughout the year. Watch for a public performance and maybe a July 4th parade entry.

The foundation has recently underwritten a reprint of a wonderful little book “Up the Mississippi, A Journey of the Blues.” It is a compact guide to American history as reflected in the Blues, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Roll, and the great American song book. The library has it available, it includes a great compilation CD.

Woodmen Hall is finally ready to really utilize its stage. A professional quality, easy to use, sound system will be ordered soon. The last fund raisers towards this will happen during the next few weeks. Acoustic treatment, lighting, black out curtains will be acquired as funds allow.

The capacity of the hall is now 236 for a sit-down performance, 330 for a “no chairs” dance type event, 110 for a dinner show. Right now the new drapes are arriving and included are masking drapes and heavy duty lifetime hardware. These are a gift from our entire community through the efforts of the “Friends of Woodmen Hall”. I see the present and future generations reviving the spirit and pride of Woodmen Hall.

We enjoy a positive and productive relationship with the staff at Lopez School, making the foundation’s work effective, enjoyable and dynamic. Thank you all for your past attendance at events in support of our efforts.