Lynn schools’ Fine Arts Dept. helps poor kids make music

LYNN - The last few years have been successful for the Lynn Public Schools music department, but without the help of a scholarship and instrument donation program, many of the department’s most talented musicians would have never been given the opportunity to reach their potential.

In tough economic times, Lynn schools are among the only districts in the state that do not require user fees for sports, after school activities and other extra curricular activities. But while the music department does not charge a participation fee, students must still pay to rent their instruments, which can cost a family $200-$400 per year for one child, depending on the instrument.

Because of Lynn’s demographics, most schools have a high population of low-income students, most of whom could not afford to play an instrument under normal circumstances.

With these limitations in mind, the Lynn School Committee allows the Fine Arts Department to accept instrument donations, which are restored and given to disadvantaged students as part of a “scholarship” program.

The vendor that restores the instruments, who wishes to remain anonymous, does so free of charge or for a small fee providing the instruments are loaned to families who do not have the resources to pay the yearly rent fee for an instrument.

There are specific criteria to be accepted in to the scholarship program, and those students must participate in all musical performances and concert events.

The scholarship program, called “Little Loaners” often carries students throughout elementary, middle and high school, and affords students the opportunity to pursue music once they are out of the Lynn school system as well.

“Because of this scholarship program, we have been able to help students remain in the music program through high school, thus extending their high school resumes and assisting them to gain entrance in to colleges by making them a more desirable candidate,” said Fine Arts Director Joseph Picano. “In addition, the Band Booster Association awards scholarships to those graduating band seniors that are accepted in to college.”

Picano credits the loaner program with helping to keep the instrumental program running in Lynn, with enough interest to form a variety of musical groups at all grade levels.

Among the programs that Lynn offers include the elementary performing band and string program, a middle school concert band, middle school orchestra, middle school jazz band, middle school string orchestra, an award-winning high school marching band, high school jazz and concert band, an award-winning jazz octet, a high school string orchestra and a variety of small band instrument ensembles.

“The loaner program helps to keep the instrumental programs running for the benefit of the students of Lynn,” Picano said. “Many cities do not go after things like this, and as a result, their programs are not at the level of ours.”

The ultimate goal of all of these groups is to eventually perform at a high level, which students have done at every level, improving from “honorable mention” winners just a few years ago, to groups that consistently win gold, silver and bronze at various competitions.

“It is a very nice feeling to see the students earn these ratings,” Picano said. “Especially when I look up and see that many of the instruments that are being played are in the hands of students who would not have been able to have that part of their education fulfilled if it were not for the assistance of those people who have donated usable instruments and the budget that we have to repair and maintain them.”

The Fine Arts Department welcomes the donation of used band and string instruments from anyone who has such resources in their household that they are no longer using.

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