Fusion fills Farmington Hills with music

by Lt. Karen Kumar

It’s Thursday afternoon. The snow is falling. Kids are coming through the doors; the hall is filling with instruments. Why, you ask? It’s Music Day at the Fusion afterschool program at the Farmington Hills, Mich., Corps.

A few years ago, our corps started the Fusion program with just a handful of kids. We found instruments and began teaching them how to play and make music. I believe music has a way of teaching children many life lessons as well as giving them an opportunity to develop talent and a love for music.

None of this would be possible without committed teachers. I would love to teach everyone, but my plate is full as an officer and a parent of two super energetic toddlers. I was wondering, how we could do this? I wanted to provide a safe, nurturing place like I had growing up. But how? Our corps doesn’t have a brass band, and we don’t have any books or materials. Here is when I brag on our divisional music department for a moment. I asked for help and immediately received the response: “We will be there, and we’ll bring the books needed!” Now every Thursday we have professional brass band members from the community teach our kids. The teachers are committed, and because of this the students want to show the same commitment.

Last summer our corps sent five students to a divisional music conservatory; they came back excited about their experience and eager to tell their friends.

We now have 21 students learning to play brass instruments and 14 learning percussion, vocal or theory. That is a total of 35 kids on a Thursday night excited about music.

Music day has become one of the most anticipated days in our program. Parents are excited when their children can take up a brass instrument because they can see the impact music can have. The character building, responsibility and the sense of accomplishment can lead to success in other areas of their lives.

The excitement and growth initially presented a challenge since we didn’t have enough instruments. I was told, “Karen, you won’t be able to get instruments for these kids.”

However, we were determined to give our Fusion kids the best! An email went out to the Eastern Michigan Division to locate any instruments in other corps which were not being used. You know what? God provided! We had just enough instruments for the kids at that time. God continued to provide as we were given the ability to purchase brand new instruments, 20 of them to be specific, on which our kids could learn. Isn’t that amazing? In Farmington Hills, we are aiming to fill their world with music.

Tags:

Ads

You May Also Like

Robert Calkins

On behalf of Salvationists in Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa, which comprise the Western ...

Growing in unity and community

Ministry is growing at the Elkhart, Ind., Corps, where Lts. Katy and Wayne Benedict ...

Patriot exercise enables EDS training

by Alexis Twito Central Territory emergency disaster services (EDS) had a valuable and successful ...