Incredible generosity allows expansion of music program

Miscouche Consolidated in western P.E.I. will be expanding enrolment in a noon-hour rock band program thanks to the donation of dozens of instruments from the community.

Music teacher Courtney Mullen put out a call for donations a couple of months ago and has been amazed by the response.

• Wanted: Old guitars, keyboards, amps for school rock band

"It was much bigger than we ever thought it would be," said Mullen.

"We had people dropping off older instruments that they had kicking around. We had somebody who had, as far as I know, looked on Kijiji for older instruments that were being sold, and he bought them and donated them. And we even had a couple of brand new instruments that were bought specifically to donate to us."

Elementary school band added

Mullen said the donations are allowing more Grade 7, 8 and 9 students to join the noon-hour rock band, and a similar band has been started for younger grades.

It would not have been possible without people's incredible generosity, she said, and she says a huge thank you to everyone who donated.

Mullen hopes getting kids hooked on music early will mean they will be less likely to drop out of music in Grade 7, the first year they can do this, and stick with it all the way through high school.

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