For anyone who appreciates music and would like to help young students enrolled in the Music Preparatory program of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music fulfill their dreams of becoming accomplished musicians, a special opportunity awaits.
The Music Preparatory Division is launching a scholarship fundraiser, “Pathway to Music.” The Music Prep House, 3028 Raguet Street, is the site of the pathway where bricks will be sold for $100 on the pathway, $200 on the porch steps and $500 for corporate donors. The corporate donors will have two bricks engraved with words of support for the Music Preparatory Division’s scholarship fundraiser.
“The scholarship fundraiser’s purpose is to raise money to assist students in their study of music,” said Pat Barnett, Music Prep division director. “Partial scholarships are awarded each August to those who make application. The scholarship fund has been depleted, so it is imperative to raise more funds.”
Music Prep offers musical training on any level of proficiency. Overall musicianship is stressed in addition to the study of an instrument. Private music lessons are offered in piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, classical guitar, voice, percussion, French horn, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone and flute. Also, Music Prep offers an orchestra, Piney Woods Youth Orchestra, as well as the Piney Woods Chorale, an adult piano class, musicianship classes and Kindermusik. Music Prep teaches all ages, from infants to 80 and beyond. Music therapy is also offered.
“During my 15-year tenure as director of Music Prep, I have seen music students mature and gain confidence through performance opportunities,” Barnett said. “Recitals, area and state competitions and sharing the ‘gift of music’ at community events have enhanced the students’ music abilities. I believe it is imperative that we continue to provide musical training, to offer scholarship monies in order to pursue the training, and to support the faculty and students. To quote Plato, ‘I would teach the children physics and philosophy and music – and of these, music is the most important. For the key to learning lies in the patterns of the arts.’”
The Music Prep faculty is comprised of SFA School of Music faculty, SFA students and musicians from the community and the Houston area.
“Serving approximately 270 students, the Music Preparatory Division is dedicated to the highest standard of music education, performance and outreach to the East Texas community,” Barnett said. “The faculty reflects these high standards.”
Founded in 1980 by Dr. Robert Blocker, then-chairman of the SFA Department of Music, and Shirley Wolfson Watterston, the program has continued the high standards set by Blocker and Watterston, according to Barnett. The program is a divisional school of the SFA School of Music. The divisional school is a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education.
Those who want to purchase a brick are encouraged to download a “Pathway to Music” order form available on the Music Prep website at www.music.sfasu.edu/prep. For more information, call (936) 468-1291 or email musicprep@sfasu.edu.
