Instruments in the Cloud
Whoever heard of such a silly thing? Well, I have, and you know what? It's AMAZING! The last month has been full of fun progress on a big project. Let me fill you in.Every year, students at Edina High School are given the opportunity to do a May Term project. Students come up with an educational idea, think it through, and apply to be granted permission to do the project they have dreamt up.
Last fall, one of Andy's band students approached me and asked what I thought about the idea of taking some student to Haiti to teach music lessons as a May Term project. I, of course, was thrilled! This student has done all of the heavy lifting. She has filled out all the necessary paper work, put together a team, planned meetings and is really impressing me with her organizational skills and motivation. As part of all of this planning, this student contacted our local public radio station because each year the station puts on an instrument drive. She wanted to know how that worked and if we could replicate it in order to collect instruments to take with us as part of the project. She was directed to Vega Producations.
"Vega Productions’ mission and work focus on supporting quality music and art education in schools. Over the past decade, Vega has provided more than 30,000 students with the opportunity to participate in music and art education programs across Minnesota. We believe that students benefit tremendously from quality music and art education and that music and art are integral parts of a whole curriculum.
Caitlin Marlotte, Executive Director of Vega Productions, was excited to meet with this student and me. She walked us through the ways in which Vega helps schools in Minnesota acquire instruments. While she acknowledged that they have not ever done anything like this for a program like GlobalFingerprints, she is excited to work with us. Caitlin has helped us set up a musical instrument drive including our very own musical wish list on Instruments in the Cloud.
Instruments in the Cloud is an online way to for people to donate instruments they are no longer using to a school or program in need. GlobalFingerprints Haiti now has a wish list. It is open and ready to accept your instruments. In fact, we have already collected 8 instruments!
There are two major ways you can get involved!
1. Check out our wish list at www.instrumentsinthecloud.org/wish_lists and donate that old instrument you've got sitting around your house!
2. Financially support the three students going on this trip. These three students are working to raise the $1,800.00 they will each need to go on this trip. If you are interested in helping them raise their funds, please contact me lynn.richter@efca.org, and I will get you the details.
