School of Music Partners with Greencastle Schools to Provide Violins to Fourth Graders

October 20, 2015

The DePauw University School of Music is partnering with the Greencastle Public School Corporation to provide both a free violin and string instruction to every fourth grader in Greencastle. If this prototype is successful, it is hoped that it can spread to all of Putnam County.

The resources to procure the instruments were provided by an anonymous donor.

Students at Tzouanakis Elementary will be given a violin to play for ten class meetings, beginning October 26. Music teacher Carrie Hamilton will be joined by string specialist Shannon Crow for lessons and in-class instruction. Interested students may continue with group meetings on Thursdays after school (at Tzouanakis) for an hour with Ed Staubach, a former middle school and high school orchestra teacher, who is currently teaching string techniques at DePauw.  

In January, the students who elect to continue will receive instruction twice a week. Continuing students who can afford to rent will be given their own instrument, allowing the free violins to be passed to the next round of beginning students. Those who cannot afford to rent their instrument can keep it free of charge, as long as they remain enrolled.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Greencastle public schools in yet another innovative way,” says Dean Mark McCoy. “Music is such a vital part of young people’s lives, and this will make it possible for fourth graders in Greencastle to learn the joy of making their own music.”

“Greencastle Community Schools is deeply committed to providing our students with fine arts education and cultural experiences, and our partnership with the DePauw School of Music supports that vision,” states Dawn Puckett, superintendent of schools. “Through the strings program, our young students will experience music instruction in a fresh and impactful way.”

Children who embrace the instrument may continue with private, one-on-one instruction at Music on the Square. They also have the option of transitioning to lessons on a different string instrument.

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority has made tax credits available to anyone who pays Indiana state taxes, giving community members the opportunity to impact this effort profoundly, while also gaining significant benefits at tax time. All donors to this effort may receive up to 75 percent of their gift back in tax relief. See your tax adviser for guidance.

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