The Halton Learning Foundation (HLF) donated $1500 to Alton Village PS to expand its musical instrument inventory. Peter Pavlovsky, extraordinary musician and intermediate music teacher, purchased an alto saxophone and a tenor saxophone for grades 6-8 students. As he so aptly said, the donations “have enhanced the music program by providing students with greater access to the instrument of their choice. It has provided sax students with more opportunity to sign out their instrument, do more individual practice, and thus achieve a higher level of confidence and ability.”
Saxophones are very popular, so this donation means that more students can play on their first instrument of choice. This helps foster a higher level of excitement, engagement, and learning. The sax has a close relationship to the recorder when it comes to notes and fingerings, so it is easier to transition to in grade 6. The sax can be easier to produce a good sound on, which helps students gain confidence. These extra instruments allow more students to participate in extra-curricular music ensembles, which leads to a better social interaction between kids.”
Special Education Resource Teacher Anne Nakahara said, “students who are engaged and content will, overall, view school as a positive place and share that positivity with others.”
Principal David Purcell said, “it is very important that our students have a strong Arts program, with a variety of activities outside of athletics that are engaging and enriching.”
Alton Village PS opened with 694 students, had 818 students in Sep 2013 and is projected to have 887 students on the first day of school, Sep 2, 2014. Of those, there are 240 students registered for FDK (Full Day Kindergarten), with 210 students in grades 6-8. With its rapidly increasing student enrolment, support for the musical instrument inventory is gratefully appreciated. Alton Village students are very fortunate to be mentored by a musician of the calibre of Peter Pavlovsky.
Jennifer Hlusko 