The Sybil B Harrington spirit of gift-giving to the arts and education continues with the recent gift of a Piano Lab to the Dalhart Education Foundation and Community Connect from the WTAMU Sybil B Harrington College of fine Arts and Humanities. The 16 keyboard Yamaha lab was relocated to Dalhart a year ago; this August it was finally given a home at Dalhart Junior High where it will play a pivotal role in the 6^th grade Fine Arts program.

When Dr. James Rennier, then Dean of the College was asked “why Dalhart”, he responded, “My thoughts about this are quite simple. With the Education Foundation and Community Connect program in place I knew it would be used for the good of the community. In the Panhandle, too often the arts are diminishing in smaller communities. Why not try to be bold and strive for excellence in Dalhart too. My philosophy as dean has been to reach out to the greater Panhandle and bring WT’s arts and humanities opportunities to where our friends live and work.”

With the opportunity of having a $56,000 windfall in the form of a piano lab, Junior High teachers Keli An Frates (Art) and Lacey Murga (Choir & Consumer Science) with the  encouragement and support of their principal John Machel, set about creating a Fine Arts Program for 6^th graders which would allow them to explore both music and art.

 We saw this as a way to use differing educational strategies to instill a Fine Arts foundation, Mrs. Frates began. Music and art intertwine because there are elements in both, such as rhythm and contrast that are the same except that one is visual and one is auditory. In our beginning lesson we taught pattern with the keyboard, she continued. The students learned the patterns of the black & white first visually by making keyboards. Next they will learn the auditory patterns on the keyboard – the sounds made by the keys.

 In short this program addresses the three main learning styles, explained Mrs. Murga, visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Because kids learn differently, they all have a chance to get it! It also reinforces other disciplines such as math, Lacey continued. In learning notes the students learn about 4 quarter notes to a whole note, etc. or in art they can fold a paper in half, fold it in half again and get 4 equal quarters, Keli An added.

  John Machel, now beginning his fifth year as Dalhart Junior High School Principal, lists many reasons he supports the new program all of them with student achievement and happiness in mind. Research indicates that Fine Arts in school are a key component in improving learning in all areas of study, he said. And we are trying to give kids as many opportunities as possible – we also have choir and band, he added.  And it gives kids another reason to come to school, the administrator affirmed; something fun, something like music that crosses every boundary.

Incoming sixth graders have the choice between Fine Arts and Band. About a half of the class, 60 students, are enrolled in Fine Arts, the rest, 69 students are enrolled in Band. Sixth graders who did not chose band will still have an opportunity to do so in the seventh grade.

 When students were asked how they feel about going back and forth between music and art, Madeline Ithivongkham said she wished they could stay in each area longer rather than switching every two weeks, however Lyndsey Dovel really likes it “because you get to learn two things at once!”

 Aaron Hembree explained that he likes the class because he really gets to express himself both in music and in art. When asked what he likes most about the piano lab is that he has the opportunity to learn how to play the piano. It’s not too intimidating he said but right now we’re only using one hand.

 “I appreciate West Texas A&M University considering us for this gift because it really does provide our students with an opportunity they would not otherwise have,” said DISD Superintendent David Foote. “And” he added, “I especially appreciate having  teachers who can come up with a program to accommodate this kind of an opportunity and an administrator to support them!”

  Long term plans for the lab include implementing a Community Connect program, either after school or during summers, that would make the piano lessons available to all interested students.