Sigma Alpha Iota

MUSIC EDUCATION Delta Phi 'Adopts' School To Advocate Music By Ashley Mulhollem Delta Phi Corresponding Secretary return. We were able to raise money through local craft fairs, open mic nights, benefit concerts, sales, and concessions at musicals and operas that were performed both at the he best advice to anyone university and in the community. interested in making a In all, we raised almost $3,000 and difference: Let's get started! were able to use all of it to help The key is simply to find a create a better musical experience place where you can serve for the students. " and do your best. Great things can be In December, sets of Sound accomplished with a little hard work Shapes (percussion instruments for and a lot of love. young students) were sent to the There are hundreds of music school. It was rewarding for both programs in the country that are the sisters of the chapter and for the struggling and need help. Once you various community members who start, you will be astounded by the donated to receive updates from support that you receive from the the school and hear how much the community, and working together students liked their new percussion with another local organization is a equipment and to reap the rewards great way to raise money for a worthy of their hard work. cause. You never know what you can The spring semester turned do until you try. out to be even more rewarding The SAI sisters of the Delta Phi than the fall. Though the chapter chapter at Mansfield University was small, numbering only 15 in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, have active sisters, they were buoyed dedicated themselves to service for by the reaction of the children and through music. One special and teachers and managed to project that has been developed is the raise almost twice the amount of Delta Phi Vice President, Ritual, Melanie DeJesus shows students "Adopt-a-School" project. Every year how to play the xylophone. money as they had the previous the chapter selects a school that is in semester. However, at the end of 85.2% labeled as economically disadvantaged. need of help and "adopts" their music program. the year, instead of mailing the instruments to There are currently 625 students enrolled at the After acquiring a wish list of needed supplies the students as they had in the fall semester, they school, with 45 students to each teacher. and materials from the music teacher, they raise decided to have a few sisters hand-deliver them. At the time that this particular school was money throughout the year dedicated to that In all, the chapter was able to send the brought to the attention of the chapter, their particular school's program. At the end of each students five sets of Sound Shapes, a set of five music teacher had just quit, taking virtually semester, a gift is sent to the school using the xylophones, 30 streamers and 33 sets of mallets. everything except the piano with her, leaving money that has been raised. The sisters were also able to work with the their new music teacher, Mr. Kauriga, with "The idea for the project actually came about students during music class, showing them how when one of our sisters, Rachelle Brisson, went to almost nothing. The school gratefully accepted to play their new sets of xylophones. Later they the help offered by the Delta Phi chapter and Philadelphia for a 2-week urban seminar where attended the spring music concert. At Emlen she was able to work with the students at Emlen," were very pleased to work with them. School, the most exciting part of this experience "Throughout the year we took many avenues Delta Phi Corresponding Secretary Ashley for the Delta Phi chapter members was seeing to raise money for this project," Mullhollem Mullhollem said. "She came back with stories of the students use the Sound Shapes that they had said. "We are blessed at Mansfield to have a how the students had nothing except an out-ofreceived in the fall as part of their spring concert community that is very supportive of the arts tune piano and a few badly made hand drums to in their tribute to Michael Jackson. and many students who are willing to help. The work with during music class. After hearing how "It really was one of the coolest experiences community really came together to support this little they had, we knew that we couldn't sit back I've ever had in my life," Delta Phi Treasurer school. and do nothing." Daniela DiBenedetto said. "After fundraising "Many times during fundraising we would And so, the "Adopt-a-School" project and working all year with SAI to raise funds have people ask what we were raising money was born. The Eleanor C Emlen School is an and purchase these instruments, it was so for and once they found out, they would simply elementary school in inner-city Philadelphia. great to finally see where it all went.  Mel and donate money and not ask for anything in 95.4% of the students are African American with T ADOPT continued on page 10 sai-national.org WINTER 2011 PAN PIPES 9

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