Performing Arts Fund
Supporting programs in both the visual and performing arts, this fund will help bring visiting artists and musicians to our schools, provide resources for expanded music and theater programs, and support an inclusive learning environment by engaging students with a range of abilities and learning styles.
Dylan
What’s portable, has four strings, and can unlock the mysteries of the musical world the moment it’s touched? Dave Harrington knows, and he wrote a grant request to WEEF because he was so sure of the answer. It’s a ukulele, of course—in the hands of a Westerly school student! Dave’s grant request, fully funded by WEEF, was for “Ukuleles in the Classroom,” a program which enriches traditional elementary school music offerings by providing students as young as kindergarteners the opportunity to play an accessible, melodic stringed instrument. In 2012, three music teachers shared a classroom set of ukuleles, exposing 1200 students to the new program, and the magic began!
Meet Dylan Temel, who experienced the magic. He’s an accomplished trumpet player who has been involved with music since he was young--studying violin, trumpet, saxophone, and some piano since he was five. He was recently selected for All State Band, where he was ranked #1 trumpet player in the State of RI Junior Division (7th -9th grade). Dylan spent four weeks studying ukulele in Dave Harrington’s class, and a new musical love was born. Dylan finds uke playing “peaceful and relaxing”, and he enjoys experimenting on the uke, mostly playing it as an accompaniment to other instruments.
According to Dave Harrington, Dylan “has an incredible ear for music and understands music theory as if he were a college student. He does not take lessons on the ukulele. He’s just a driven and dedicated young man who is a sponge for music. He’s a very rare individual and extremely mature for his age.”
Dylan was so enthusiastic about playing the ukulele in class that he went out and purchased his own soprano uke to play at home! He plans to continue uke playing as an enjoyable, relaxing hobby, and he’d like to thank Mr. Harrington and WEEF for the opportunity to play in school.
Dylan’s exposure to ukes has enriched his already music-filled life. For many other Westerly students, a ukulele is the first real melodic instrument that they’ll ever play, and it will open doors to a world they’ve never known. Ukuleles can be used to introduce chord theory, melody, harmony, solo playing and accompaniment, in a manner which is highly motivating and accessible to students of all abilities. Grants such as “Ukuleles in the Classroom” provide the kind of innovation which WEEF hopes to support in Westerly schools, meeting the needs of children with a wide variety of experience and providing programs that will affect them forever. Be a part of
the magic. Touch and enrich young lives by donating to WEEF. Allow us to help teachers make a lasting impact on the future.
Meet Dylan Temel, who experienced the magic. He’s an accomplished trumpet player who has been involved with music since he was young--studying violin, trumpet, saxophone, and some piano since he was five. He was recently selected for All State Band, where he was ranked #1 trumpet player in the State of RI Junior Division (7th -9th grade). Dylan spent four weeks studying ukulele in Dave Harrington’s class, and a new musical love was born. Dylan finds uke playing “peaceful and relaxing”, and he enjoys experimenting on the uke, mostly playing it as an accompaniment to other instruments.
According to Dave Harrington, Dylan “has an incredible ear for music and understands music theory as if he were a college student. He does not take lessons on the ukulele. He’s just a driven and dedicated young man who is a sponge for music. He’s a very rare individual and extremely mature for his age.”
Dylan was so enthusiastic about playing the ukulele in class that he went out and purchased his own soprano uke to play at home! He plans to continue uke playing as an enjoyable, relaxing hobby, and he’d like to thank Mr. Harrington and WEEF for the opportunity to play in school.
Dylan’s exposure to ukes has enriched his already music-filled life. For many other Westerly students, a ukulele is the first real melodic instrument that they’ll ever play, and it will open doors to a world they’ve never known. Ukuleles can be used to introduce chord theory, melody, harmony, solo playing and accompaniment, in a manner which is highly motivating and accessible to students of all abilities. Grants such as “Ukuleles in the Classroom” provide the kind of innovation which WEEF hopes to support in Westerly schools, meeting the needs of children with a wide variety of experience and providing programs that will affect them forever. Be a part of
the magic. Touch and enrich young lives by donating to WEEF. Allow us to help teachers make a lasting impact on the future.
