Sigma Alpha Iota

PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE Saving the Music – Nebraska Style By Jamie Reimer O n the evening of May 31, orange flames shot into the sky from the Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) District Offices in Lincoln, NE. The building, which housed administrative offices, district records, technology resources, and other inventory, was a total loss estimated at $20 million. Included in that inventory was the school district's supply of musical instruments and extensive sheet music library of over 9,000 scores. This loss has directly affected Jessica Rajewich, a Lincoln alumna and Kappa initiate who teaches general music at Everett Elementary School. Other Kappa SAI sisters are also doing their practicum and student teaching for LPS as well. Students had just returned borrowed instruments and scores to the offices as the academic year had ended the week before. Most of the district-owned instruments were loaned to low-income students who qualified for free and reduced-price lunches, as well as students who won a rental lottery sponsored by Lincoln Public Schools. Ray Lowther, LPS music superintendent, spoke to the Lincoln Journal Star about the tragic timing of the accident. "Had this … happened in February," he said. "There would have been virtually no instruments in here." Instruments were stored in a garage nearby the office building that escaped most of the fire damage. The garage did not manage to escape damage inflicted by torrents of water and clouds of smoke from the blaze next door. Instruments and scores stored on lower shelving units were soaked in water and unsalvageable. Many stacks of music and instruments stored on upper shelves and appear to have suffered less damage. Three harps worth thousands of dollars were not in the garage at the time of the fire. They remain safely at area schools. "The harps are okay. It was just a blessing," Lowther said. Music teachers from across the district spent hours at the storage garage sorting instruments, sat his case down on the chair. He pulled out a silver trumpet, handed it to the young man, and said, "I want to give this to you." The young man was visibly shaking, crying tears of joy and relief and yet put the trumpet together and played "To God Be the Glory." I will never forget seeing this exchange. In Cuba, children take an aptitude test, and then they choose a career. Once they have chosen that career, it is the only thing that they study, and it will become their job. In Cuba, the band members, choir members, orchestra members, street musicians and pop artists are employed by the Cuban government. It is their job to play music. Every Cuban is paid 400 Cuban Pesos per month in exchange for their job. This equals about $16 U.S. dollars. This matters in Cuba because the most common currency is the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) which is even with the USD. In other words, the Cuban people live on $16 a month because many of the foods and supplies they require are sold in CUC stores. They also receive a small ration of food and supplies in addition. In light of this, the Cuban musicians have to rely heavily on the kindness and generosity of others in order to get the supplies they need to continue to play their instruments. I want to thank SAI Philanthropies, Inc. and the members of SAI from the bottom of my heart for helping fulfill a need. Because of the repair supplies, we were able to make a significant difference. Tiffany Feltner is a recent graduate of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she received the Master of Music Performance, and an alumna of Lee University, where she received the Bachelor of Arts in Music. She is a charter initiate of the Lambda Eta Chapter and was affiliated with the Theta Mu Chapter at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She regularly performs and teaches in the Chattanooga, TN area. P 2P O PE PL E-T O-P P EO LE determining which of them could be saved, and prepping instruments for repair. The school district estimates that 500 of the 800 instruments can be restored to playable condition including 150 brass instruments and approximately 350 stringed instruments. Insurance claims will be filed for the instruments beyond repair. The district estimated that 80 percent of the 9,000 titles in the sheet music library could be saved. Lowther remains impressed by the generosity of the Lincoln community's response to the blaze. Many people have offered to donate instruments or raise money for instruments that cannot be repaired. "I am impressed beyond measure [by] the music and arts community in Lincoln." XI A Province Officer Jamie Reimer is an initiate of the Eta Nu Chapter and the recipient of the SAI 1999 John F. Kennedy Center Internship, the 2005 and 2008 Alumnae Development Grants, the 2006 Graduate Performance Award, and the 2008 Doctoral Grant. Developing Life Skills Through Music S infonia por la Vida is a private-public partnership that is designed to help children from the margins of society though music. Young musicians are provided with instruments and daily instruction. As they develop musical skills, they also develop skills they can apply to life success in a variety of arenas. The People-to-People project assists Albert Hunt, International Coordinator of Sinfonía por la Vida, in acquiring music, instruments and accessories for the students, like this one, in Ecuador. Don't Delay, Donate Today! Giving the Gift of Music Around the World An SAI Philanthropies, Inc. Project www.sai-national.org sai-national.org SUMMER 2011 PAN PIPES 5

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