Acoustic Guitars for Students!

Funded Apr 2, 2024

In the spring of 2024, the music program at Seymour High School in Connecticut expanded with the addition of four new guitars, greatly enhancing the students' experiences and learning. This was made possible thanks to the SHS music department, which applied for a donor grant specifically supporting music education in the community. Seymour High School has a long-standing reputation prioritizing modern music as a key component of its curriculum. This reputation is evident through the diverse offerings available to students, which include a Performing Arts Program, music production classes, Honors ensembles classes, and a wide range of guitar classes. Seymour also embraces the Tri-M music honors society. One of the M's in Tri-M stands for modern.

Our student body comprises individuals from grades 9 through 12, with an occasional inclusion of Middle School students. Throughout each year, our music program hosts numerous public performances, culminating in a significant district concert held in late March. This concert showcases the hard work and talent of our students, making it one of the highlights of the academic year. The current year will incorporate the new guitars from our donors into some of these performances.

The new guitars have been well received by our students, who prefer them over the older, worn-out instruments. Some students have created maintenance goals which dedicates extra time to learning how to maintain these new guitars. All along tailoring them to meet their individual needs. We have seen a remarkable increase in the quality of performances and recordings. The guitars have helped inspire students to explore their musical creativity, and we are excited about the potential for more musical creations and events in the future. The accompanying pictures of students plating the guitars were taken at our new recording studio at Seymour High School. This program has become a hub for student innovation and artistic expression.

Additionally, we recently secured a grant to construct a recording studio within our school. This project took a year to realize, and while we made significant progress, we were unable to acquire all the necessary equipment through that initial grant alone. The guitars provided by our generous donors played a crucial role in helping us gather the additional supplies needed to complete this project. We now have much of what is required to undertake various upcoming projects and initiatives.

In summary, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the people who contributed to this endeavor by providing these beautiful guitars. The impact on our students, their teachers, and the entire school community has been excellent. We are all deeply appreciative of the kindness and support shown by our donors. Looking ahead, we are optimistic about the potential for future collaborations and projects with these generous people. The contributions have not only enriched our guitar program and music program as a whole but have also fostered a sense of community and shared purpose among our students and our music teachers. Thank you once again for making such a difference in the lives of our students, teachers and school community.”

With gratitude,

Mr. Swetts