Dorothy Height Charter School’s music program just got a major upgrade! Thanks to the Save The Music Foundation, Height will soon receive $49,000 worth of new musical instruments and related materials to enhance its existing band program. Height will receive 36 instruments as part of this grant, including flutes, clarinets, alto saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a variety of drums.
Height is the second school in the CCS network to receive a grant from the Save The Music Foundation. Akili Academy was the first CCS school to benefit from this program, as it was chosen to receive the same band grant in 2019. The Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit whose mission is to help students, schools, and communities reach their full potential through the power of making music. Founded in 1997, Save The Music partners with school districts and raises funds to restore music programs in public schools. Since its inception, the organization has donated over $63 million worth of new musical instruments, equipment, and technology to 2,290 schools in 286 school districts around the country.
Chiho Feindler, Senior Director of Programs and Policy at Save The Music, had the following to say about selecting Height as a band grand recipient.
“Witnessing the great success of band programs at Akili, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, confirmed Crescent City Schools’s commitment to bring music education to its students. This was further confirmed after connecting with Principal Arthur, as her passion and commitment to bring the best to Height’ students, including music education, was so obvious. We are thrilled to provide band instruments, equipment, and program support to the Height community.”
Although Height has offered drumline and jazz band to its students in the past, Principal LaKeysha Arthur has made the continued enhancement of Height music program a school-wide priority for 2021 and beyond. Arthur believes that music is hugely important for students and, in addition to continuing to offer jazz band, drumline, and general music instruction, Height plans to add chorus/vocal instruction in 2021-2022, create a piano lab for students, and continue its partnership with Make Music NOLA, which provides Height students with violin instruction.
“Now that Height has received this grant, students have even more musical instruments to choose from,” shared Height music teacher Ryan Batiste.
“The kids were extremely excited to see the shipment come in, and they are ready to get started.”
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