The Gift of Music
Mr. Holland’s Opus grant puts new instruments in students’ hands
Written by Megan Middleton
Playing a brand new trumpet helps beginning band
student Alec Lloyd know he’s making the right sounds
and hitting the right notes.
“Not everybody gets to have a trumpet that’s new,”
Lloyd, a seventh-grader, said, noting how some students
complain about the older instruments and how they
sound. “I don’t have to complain … because it’s brand
new and shiny.”
Lloyd’s trumpet was among 13 new instruments The
Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation awarded to Crowley
Middle School’s band program this school year as part
of a grant totaling more than $22,500. CMS was one of
only 18 schools in Texas and 42 nationwide that received
a grant from The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation for
the 2017-18 school year.
The Fort Worth-based Ryan Foundation made a
generous contribution to The Mr. Holland’s Opus
Foundation to support grants to schools within the
greater Fort Worth area, said Tricia Steel, program
director for The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.
Steel said her organization has extensive criteria
that schools must meet to receive a grant.
“One thing that stood out about Crowley Middle
School is the school’s dedication to students and desire
to double student enrollment in the music program,”
Steel said, also noting the financial need among students
at the school.
Marissa Davis, CMS band director, said she applied
for the grant because of the need she saw.
“We had students interested in being in band who
wanted to be a part of the fine arts program but maybe
couldn’t afford the instrument they wanted to play,”
Davis said. “It’s never fun to have to give a kid their
second choice.”
20 CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Winter 2017
The grant afforded her the chance to put new
clarinets, trumpets, saxophones and a tuba into the
hands of students.
“Being awarded the grant meant a lot to us because
it shows that another organization sees the potential our
program has,” Davis said, adding that it also provides a
great opportunity for students.
Eighth-grader Denise Campbell loves playing her
tuba because it makes her feel strong.
“The last tuba that I had was as tall as me, and it was
just so tall that I couldn’t do it,” Campbell said. “And the
one I have right now is short and chubby, and I just love
it. It’s very cool.”
Jordan Smith, a seventh-grader, said his new
trumpet’s valves never get turned around and “the air
always flows out right.”
“I see other people that have the trumpets from last
year and the trumpets from last year don’t work as good,
so I’m happy that I have a trumpet that actually works,”
Smith said. “It helps me know what sounds I’m making
and know that I’m making the right sounds.”
Steel said the foundation’s research indicates that
students who participate in music education have higher
attendance rates, graduation rates and greater academic
achievement than their peers not enrolled in music.
“Additionally, music students have fewer behavioral
referrals and suspensions,” Steel said. “Music education
is a powerful tool for positive youth development, and we
believe that all students should therefore have access to
school music education programs.”
Lloyd said knowing that the foundation helped make
these new instruments possible makes him feel like
people care.
“I’m grateful this program has helped us in the band
to get new instruments, so everybody can play,” he said.
Watch eighth-grader Deni se Campbell play her
new tuba on the Crowley ISD YouTube Channel.
14 CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Fall 2016
Winter 2017 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 21