RANSON, W.Va. -- Friends of Music has donated a set of three tubano drums to Ranson Elementary School in Jefferson County.
The accompanying photo shows a fifth-grade music class with the new drums in the front row. Music teacher Bonnie Pullen, who asked for the donation, is shown in the center of the last row.
"I teach African drumming with my fourth and fifth grade students," said Ms. Pullen. "The drums are easy to play and accessible to all grade levels. They help me teach beat and rhythm, as well as listening and teamwork skills. Students feel proud to accomplish a team sound."
The donation, which is valued at $500, is part of a Friends grant program to support music education in Berkeley and Jefferson County schools. The grants typically involve instruments and music supplies not covered by regular school budgets. The grants are awarded annually based on applications submitted by music teachers.
The Friends of Music organization is a Shepherdstown-based, non-profit group founded in 1999 to support and promote musical excellence. It supports the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, the only professional classical music orchestra in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, and one of only three such orchestras in the state. Full information about the Friends is available at www.friendswv.org.