AUSTINTOWN — Christmas got here early to Austintown Excessive Colleges’ Rock Band lessons.
Music instrument producer Gibson Manufacturers made a considerable donation of devices and different gear to the college by way of its Gibson Offers program.
“I’ve a buddy who works at Gibson’s Nashville department,” mentioned John Anthony, who teaches the 2 Rock Band lessons, which meet on the very un-rock ‘n’ roll time of the primary two durations of the college day. “Once I obtained my job at Austintown final yr, he inspired me to use for it. I utilized final Christmas and was authorised within the spring.”
The varsity acquired some amplifiers close to the tip of the final faculty yr with phrase that extra could be coming.
On Sept. 25, Austintown had knowledgeable growth day so the college constructing was closed.
“My cellphone begins ringing off the hook with an unknown quantity,” Anthony mentioned. “They have been calling me as a result of a semitruck was pulling as much as Austintown with donations. I knew one thing was coming finally, however I didn’t know when.”
The cargo included electrical guitars, electrical basses and acoustic guitars in addition to amplifiers, guitar pedals, cables, picks and guitar straps.
In an emailed assertion, Gibson Offers Government Director Denby Jarrett mentioned this system was began in 2002 to make the world a greater place by way of music by supporting musicians by way of teaching programs in addition to music well being and wellness initiatives.
“We usually give devices immediately to varsities solely in areas the place we have now a company location,” Jarrett wrote. “However we had been following John Anthony’s efforts at Austintown Fitch to do instrument drives with restricted success and knew of his need to construct a guitar-centric program on the faculty. We knew we wanted to assist. The world wants extra younger folks making music.
“It has been confirmed that music training produces higher college students offering higher communication and listening expertise, staff constructing and management expertise … and college students in music training lessons usually carry out higher academically. The underside line — we attempt to assist folks make higher music!”
Gibson Offers has raised greater than $4.5 million worldwide since its inception.
“Numerous my youngsters utilized devices donated to this system,” Anthony mentioned. “Once I got here in final yr, we did an instrument drive, and we did the identical factor once more this yr. This system has doubled in dimension, and numerous these youngsters can’t afford to purchase devices (of their very own). It was like Christmas day for these youngsters. I overheard a pair say issues like, ‘This was the guitar I all the time wished to play.’”
Sophomore Rami Mills warmed up initially of sophistication on a purple Ephiphone electrical guitar that was one of many donated devices.
“I completely love this one out of all those we obtained,” Mills mentioned. “The colour, the specs, every thing. I knew we obtained somewhat final yr and extra was coming, however once we lastly obtained all of these things, it was an enormous shock.”
Junior Ryan Rosser mentioned, “It’s good having the ability to decide up something we would like and simply use it.”
Final yr’s Rock Band college students obtained to carry out twice at Youngstown’s Westside Bowl. On a area journey to the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame in Cleveland, they obtained to play in “The Storage,” an space outfitted with devices that guests can play there.
Anthony, who’s the lead guitar participant of the band The Vindys, mentioned he informed his college students they already have been forward of him — he didn’t play on the Rock Corridor till he was 27.
On Friday college students have been rehearsing songs by acts starting from Blondie to Soundgarden to Pixies.
“Now that we have now sufficient devices and all these wonderful items of kit, the objective is to push them and see how a lot we will get them out into the group enjoying,” Anthony mentioned. “I’m hoping to tie them into one thing like Federal Frenzy (the downtown music competition staged each spring by Youngstown State College’s Penguin Productions). That might be the right factor, tying into YSU.
“Numerous faculties within the space, like YSU and Kent, are creating trendy (music) applications. I’ve been in talks with professors from each of those that wish to have their college students observe our class as a result of we’re actually the one one who has one thing like this. In 10 years, everybody can have some type of trendy facet to their faculty.”
