Major donation boosts school music department

The Whitefish School District music program received a significant boost from an anonymous donor this week.

A $22,700 grant, distributed through the Whitefish Community Foundation, will purchase seven new instruments for the program, including two tubas, two bass clarinets, an octave rosewood marimba, a vibraphone and a jazz drum set.

More than 25 percent of high school students participate in the music program. The district does not, however, provide funding for the purchase of instruments.

Many of the school’s band instruments are more than 40 years old and in need of replacement. This scenario, coupled with a recent budget reduction for high school sheet music, has increased the music program’s dependence on charitable foundations and private donors.

This past year, the same anonymous donor purchased 25 new instruments for the band and orchestra and new robes for the high school choir. The donation also provided new sheet music, another item that can be quite expensive.

The average high school band piece costs about $80 for a score and set of parts. The band program is still recovering from the loss of its music library to the high school fire of 1977; hundreds of classic titles were destroyed, many of which are no longer in print.

This year’s donation will greatly improve the quality of music the students are able to produce individually and collectively, said Mark McCrady, Whitefish School District band instructor.

“An instrument is a big investment,” he said. “The cost prohibits many families from purchasing them outright for their children. Our ability to provide rental instruments is critical to the long-term viability of our program.

“We believe that a quality music education should be available to all students, regardless of financial means. We are so grateful for the generous support of this anonymous donor.”

Learning to play an instrument has many benefits to a student, McCrady said.

“The experience of creating, interpreting and performing great music is much more than a hobby — it is a critical factor in college and career readiness,” he said.

While this recent investment in the music program will meet several important needs, there is still much more to be done, McCrady said.

An updated list of music program needs can be found on the Whitefish band’s website. Much of the soon-to-be renovated high school music suite will require private funding for the purchase of technology, furnishings and finish work.

“We hope our community will continue to partner with us as we seek to provide rich and meaningful experiences for our students in the fine arts,” McCrady said.