Piano raffle will fund keyboarding software

In a bit of a twist, School District 6 music departments are raffling off a real piano so they can invest in software to teach students to play pianos and other keyboard instruments.

The real piano, with real ivory keys and a wooden soundboard, is a 1985 Everett Console piano estimated to be worth between $750 and $1,000, Ruder Elementary School music teacher Diane Volkman said.

Dan and Patti Singer, owners of the Meadow Lake Bed and Breakfast in Columbia Falls, donated the piano to the school district. Included with the piano are two piano tunings donated by Frank Talley, a well-known local piano tuner and technician.

Funds raised by the raffle will be used to buy the “Children’s Music Journey,” a three-volume software series that teaches children how to play through the works of the great composers and performers. The acclaimed software claims to be able to teach students as young as four to play the keyboard.

Volkman said school teachers will sell raffle tickets at various junior high and elementary school concerts throughout the holiday season.

The schools purchased keyboarding software and keyboards through a Plum Creek Foundation grant a few years ago. The new software will build on this original investment.

Tickets are on sale for $10 each or three for $20 available at the schools or by calling junior high music teacher Mollye Faulkner at 892-6530.

—————

School holiday concerts start this week

A host of holiday concerts are on tap for area schools. Here’s a rundown of the schedules:

• Ruder Elementary School will present its kindergarten through first-grade concert on Monday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m., grades four and five will perform on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 9:30 a.m. and grades two and three will perform on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m.

• West Glacier School will present its concert on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 5 p.m.

• The Columbia Falls Junior High School will present its choir concert on Thursday, Dec. 11, with grade six at 6 p.m. and grades seven and eight at 7:30 p.m. The junior high band concert will take place on Thursday, Dec. 18, with grade six at 6:30 p.m. and grades 7-8 at 7:15 p.m.

• Glacier Gateway Elementary School will present its first and second grade concert at the high school’s Little Theater on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 10:30 a.m. The third through fifth grades will present their concert the same day at 1:30 p.m. at the Little Theater.

• The Columbia Falls High School choirs will present their annual holiday concert on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m., the band will perform on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m., the advanced band and choir will perform on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m., and the Jazz Café will take place on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m.

• Deer Park School will present its Christmas dinner and concert on Thursday, Dec. 18, with dinner at 6 p.m. and the concert at 7 p.m.