By JESSE GRAHAM
MARYSVILLE Primary School students have received a helping hand with their musical studies, receiving $1000 for new instruments from logging body, VicForests.
VicForests announced the funding through its annual Community Support Program at the end of August, with the grant money used to purchase percussion instruments and a speaker set.
Marysville Primary School principal, Leigh Woods said the equipment would be used by students, the Marysville District Kinder Association and District Youth Group, as well as volunteer groups.
When the Mail stopped by the school last week for a photo, the students were busy with their fortnightly music practice with teacher, Gary Soloman.
Taking on recent pop hits like Vance Joy’s Riptide, the students took turns getting up in front of the other classes to perform, with the audience participating almost as much as the singers themselves.
Mr Soloman said the students were preparing for their Open Morning on 15 September, where they will perform to parents and other students, as well as an event to coincide with the Jazz and Blues festival in October.
He said the percussion instruments, which included tambourines, clap-sticks, xylophones and Latin percussion, helped to teach the children the basics of music after they had learned the theory.
“The first two terms of this year, we spend on theory – I’ll teach them how to read music and use percussion as an example of how to measure notes,” Mr Soloman said.
“If you can … get children to connect with rhythm, it’s a really great foundation.”
VicForests Regional Engagement Manager, Liz Langford said the program provided grants of up to $2000 available for charity, sporting, educational and community groups.
“Each year we have a great response from organisations applying for a grant and we’re happy to be able to reach out and help many different groups and projects,” she said.
