WorkshopLive Teams With Salvation Army For Free After-School Online Keyboard Lessons
July 14, 2006
Declaring its initial online music lessons after-school project a solid success, The Salvation Army has announced plans to continue the free program, with the view of expanding it beyond the Berkshires region. A June 22 recital demonstrated the fruits of the innovative public-private collaboration among the Salvation Army and supporting organizations, including WorkshopLive Inc., Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, Guardian/Berkshire Life, Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield Rotary Club and the Pittsfield Cultural Council.
"From the very start, this program was conceived as a possible prototype for adoption elsewhere in the northeast, and nationally. This early experience convinces us that we are on the right track," said Capt. Scott Peabody of the Pittsfield Corps. "The WorkshopLive approach to online learning proved extremely effective in our music lab. Students found it easy to use, and their progress was remarkable."
Capt. Peabody told attendees at the concert/recital of student musicians that the Pittsfield Corps is now accepting for the second 12-week term of online music lessons, which begins in the fall.
"Music education has been proven to lift students' learning abilities in all subjects," said David Smolover, founder and CEO of WorkshopLive. "The Salvation Army has provided a valuable service in many ways, giving students a constructive after-school activity that is both fun and helpful to their quality of life. To see these students performing after just 11 weeks of lessons was a most rewarding experience. We are proud to be partners in this most worthwhile endeavor."
Available to those in grades 4-8, this new beginner program for keyboard lessons uses the teaching technology of WorkshopLive.
WorkshopLive provided the course content and software; music interns from Berkshire Community College supervised the practice sessions; and Berkshire Life (Guardian) provided the hardware. This program is funded in part by grants from Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, Pittsfield Rotary Club, and the Pittsfield Cultural Council. For more information, visit their web site at www.workshoplive.com.
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