August 28, 2023
By Mealand Ragland-Hudgins
Rutherford County Schools
Smyrna Middle School's fine arts program will receive 35 new instruments thanks to a grant awarded by The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.
The instruments include 30 mini portable keyboards, a concert marimba, three alto saxophones and an oboe.
Named for the 1995 movie, The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation prioritizes donations to schools with 65 percent or more economically disadvantaged students. Grant applications are by invitation only, according to its website.
Funds for the grant total $21,447 and the gift was made possible by the Morgan Wallen Foundation, according to an award notice to the school.
“We’re a little underequipped for the size band that we have and band is a big part of the Smyrna Middle culture,” said co-band director Cody Dailey.
The school has approximately 900 students, with 142 of them participating in band.
“Some instruments we have are from the 1960s,” co-band director Emily Swafford added. “It’s so hard to be a beginner with an instrument that doesn’t function. When that happens, the students think they are the problem and it’s really discouraging.”
The keyboards currently in use are outdated or don’t function properly, said Jason Bratten, who teaches general music education at the school. Once the new shipment of keyboards arrives, students will no longer have to take turns during rehearsals.
“It’ll be overwhelming what we’ll be able to do in our classes,” Bratten said.