The Hot Springs/Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild recently distributed its annual grants to area schools for music education programs.
"The Guild is a firm believer that music plays an important role in children's development and, as such, annually distributes $10,000 to area schools for music education," a news release said.
Jim Piersol of the Music Education Committee communicates with local music educators for needs. Other members of the committee are Donna Toney, Jim Kelly, Hal Thompson, summer music camps, Terry Lee, college scholarship, and Martha Smither, children's c oncert.
The grant awards were as follows:
• Lakeside Middle School -- Assistance for piano lab costs.
• Mountain Pine Schools -- Funds for instrument repair and purchase of equipment.
• Mountain Pine Elementary -- Assistance to start a ukulele program.
• Jessieville Elementary -- Purchase of ukuleles.
• Lake Hamilton Elementary -- Funds for sub-contra bass bars.
• Lake Hamilton Primary -- Purchase of classroom rhythm instruments.
• Oaklawn Stem Magnet -- Funds for Sound Shapes Percussion Kit and other instruments.
• Lake Hamilton Middle School -- Purchase of Digimet Metronome.
• Lake Hamilton Middle School -- Classroom instruments, drums, xylophones, rhythm sticks and mini keyboards.
"Please consider becoming a Guild member and help us achieve our mission to support music education," the release said.
Annual membership is $20 per person, and $10 of each membership is directed toward the Guild's educational programs.
Visit http://www.symphonyguild.org for more information. "We welcome new members at any time during the year. If you have an email address, you may join online on our website," the release said.