A Note From Miss Chantal: Gift of Music Class Reflection

Miss Chantal with the Stepping Stones Crew!

A Note From Miss Chantal 

(and the C-Fund's Gift of Music Program)

This last Wednesday marked my final Gift of Music class for the season. It's always hard to say goodbye!

It was just as tough to part last year, and the year prior to that. Did you know that the Joyful Noise C-Fund has provided three seasons of music classes so far to under-served children in the Ottawa County area? It is important to us that we give the gift of musical fun and learning to families who might not otherwise be able to afford those types of valuable early childhood services!

Thanks to a grant from the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation and the Mary Anne Sherwood Families and Children Field of Interest Fund, we were able to offer another round of high-quality programming this year to kids in need.

 

Our first section of classes for 2015 were at Grand Haven's local Head Start. I taught 3 consecutive weeks to a.m. students, followed by 3 consecutive weeks to p.m. students. I gave away around 35 slide whistles and brochures, and we had tons of fun exploring instruments, singing, and moving our bodies to music! On my very last day, the kids presented me with a card full of quotes (and some super-duper hugs). 

Next was a three week session with the children of Stepping Stones daycare in Holland, a childcare center that provides care for residents of the Holland Rescue Mission who are transient, homeless or in need of a safe place to stay. 

The children were so wonderful to work with. They eagerly awaited each music week (as well as Miss Kelli's Nutrition Expedition goodies!), and were so thankful for their slide whistles and the time we spent together. I saw a few familiar faces this year and met some new friends, and I enjoyed every moment of our time together, singing, playing and learning about music! =)

Looking at their picture above reminds me of how hard it was to say goodbye for the year, and how valuable my time spent was. I am so blessed to be a part of this program, and to be supported through your generous donations to the C-Fund. I can't thank our supporters enough for covering the costs of facilitating the program--from instrument purchases, to staffing costs.

Are you interested in supporting next year's classes? We need your help! Every bit counts!

Make a tax deductible donation to our non-profit program today (donation information to your left) and help cover the cost of an instrument or learning materials for a special child who is waiting patiently for the Gift of Music to come to them! 

Wishing You Well,

Miss Chantal

Gift of Music Classes June/July 2013

Click here to visit the official Facebook Event page, 

or visit our website here!

Summertime is here! That means a brand new round of A Gift of Music Classes. This year we've cooked up something so beneficial and fun for children in our community! Sing & Slide, for ages 2-5, is a free music class offering an instrument and take home materials for kids! Read all the details about the program in our Program Backrounder, here! Also check out the official press release.

That's not all we're doing for our early childhood community this year! Our instructor Chantal McDaniel is also traveling to Stepping Stones daycare (a service to the homeless and transient community and a part of Holland Rescue Mission) in Holland, Michigan! For three consecutive weeks, children will recieve on site early childhood music classes: fun songs, movement, and instrument exposure, along with send-home materials for parents and extenders for teachers at the daycare.

Check out the awesome instrument donation we were able to pass along to Stepping Stones due to a generous instrument donation from Kathleen McDonald, retired music and special education teacher from Mason, Michigan!