Free program to unite children with music

[BrianSullivan]

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Free program to unite children with music

The Graeme Preston Foundation for Life will be providing an instructor and new instruments for the Dennis McGackin Jr. Music Club at the YMCA Community Center, Center Street, Freehold Borough.

The free program, open to anyone in the community, will be held every Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. for 12 weeks from Feb. 3 to April 21. Instruction will be provided to the first 30 children between the ages of 8 and 17 who register for the club.

Lessons will be given on guitar during the first hour, keyboard for the second hour and drums for the third hour.

The YMCA will host the music club’s kickoff celebration party from 5-7 p.m. Jan. 25. The party will include music and refreshments.




The objective of the Dennis McGackin Jr. Music Club is to provide children with the opportunity to experience music by taking lessons and practicing on a weekly basis, thus instilling a sense of accomplishment with short- and long-term benefits, according to a press release.

Lessons will be provided by Steve Kelly of Music University, Freehold Township. The children will be playing individually and as a group.

The Graeme Preston Foundation for Life is funding the program by providing an instructor and new instruments.

The program was created by Kelley Mc- Gackin, Dennis McGackin, Paul Sallee and Scott Preston.

[BrianSullivan]

I am ecstatic to see this program. About a year ago I approached the Recreation Commission with a very similar idea. I do not know if the Rec commission had a hand in this, but it is great to see that this is getting done. Here is what I wrote about 1 year ago on January 10th:

Mentoring/lessons programs- This concept is inspired by the unfortunate troubles the schools have been having with music and arts programs due to cuts in funding and space problems. The Recreation Commission would be an ideal place to put together programs for students to learn and grow in their music abilities.

AS an example, a great program would be one in which volunteer instructors give group lessons to kids who are already learning an instrument. Group settings are very valuable for students so that they can learn how to play with others. Should the program succeed, the kids could show off their skills at various events in town. This program would be ideal at the Court Street School. For a very small fee, it would ensure that students continue to learn a very valuable skill.

Similar programs could be put in place of other art forms such as painting or dance. Consideration could also be made for adult classes or jam sessions.

Due to costs, these types of programs would have to be limited to those students who own instruments. To include new students or those who do not own, there would have to some sort of effort to bring in an outside vendor to provide instrument rentals.

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