The musically inclined at Bethlehem Central High School have reason to celebrate after an anonymous donor presented the district with a $13,000 check for the purchase of music equipment.
The Bethlehem Central Board of Education accepted the donation at its Wednesday, Jan. 8, meeting. The money was given by an anonymous donor through the Bethlehem Community Foundation.
“We are always happy to receive donations,” said Dave Norman, supervisor of the district’s music department. “Because of budgets what they are and the equipment we need being expensive, any time we get something like this, it’s helpful.”
According to Norman, more than 1,100 students within the district participate in instrumental ensembles. He called the music program “healthy,” but said most parents can expect out-of-pocket expenses if their children wish to pursue playing an instrument.
“We don’t have a large inventory available for the students,” said Norman. “We tend to provide the larger instruments so they don’t have to or for those who can’t bring them on the bus. Some smaller instruments can be used by us for a fee, but most need to be rented.”
The community foundation first approached the music department about the donation at the beginning of the year. Music staff were told they could use the money in any way they wished, but that the donor was interested in the district’s string program and specifically had an affinity for the viola.
About 120 students in the high school play a string instrument.
Norman said the high school string section was in need of bows, strings and cases, all of which sound mundane, but can be costly. The department estimated the new equipment would cost $9,000, so they returned their request to the community foundation.
“We weren’t expecting the larger sum,” said Norman. “We now have an additional $4,000 and the flexibility to do with it what we wish.”
The music department is still doing research to see what the rest of the money should be spent on, but Norman said typically some money is set aside from donations to help students who want to play an instrument but might not have the means.
“As music supervisor, I want to encourage as many students as possible,” said Norman. “There’s a wealth of anecdotal support on what music studies does to create well-rounded students, and there is a strong correlation with academic achievement.”
Norman said music is a universal language and a hobby students can continue throughout their lives.
Although the donation is large, it isn’t the largest in one made to the music department. Several years ago, someone donated a baby grand piano, which Norman said has been quite useful.
Norman said that although the district can always find a use for monetary donations, they will also accept old instruments.
“Our equipment is limited, and instruments are expensive,” he said. “If nothing else, even if the instruments are old, we can put them into the hands of a younger student who may not have been able to learn because of the cost of the rental.”