Education

KEYS

April 14, 2014
382

See a need, fill a need. That was the motto of Rodney in the 2005 movie Robots. Winnie Huprich must heed that motto closely. Thanks to Huprichs generosity, the songs emanating from the Berlin Elementary music room sound a little bit sweeter. In a surprise move, much to the joy of East Holmes elementary music teacher Julia Shoup, Huprich saw a need in the music department and met it by donating a new piano to the school. I became aware that they needed new pianos for Berlin and Walnut Creek, said Huprich. According to Julia Shoup, the old piano at Berlin was in pretty bad shape, and was a true hindrance to providing any productive aid in teaching music. The one in Walnut Creek Elementary was just as forlorn. They were both about 20 or 21 years old, and both had started to malfunction, said Shoup of the two pianos at Walnut Creek and Berlin elementaries. In November, it really hit me that I was going to be having Christmas programs with pianos that didnt work. At the heart of the problem was the sustain pedal on each piano that didnt work, and Shoup could not direct the choir without taking her hand off the keys. When she did that, all piano accompaniment stopped. Once my hands were up, the piano was done, said Shoup. The kids need direction and guidance, and I cant because I cant take my hands off the piano keys. It wasnt pretty. Shoup even searched for recorded accompaniment for her Christmas musicals but came up empty. After going to booster club meetings and talking to the school board, she quickly realized that with a school district on a tight budget, she was simply going to learn how to adapt to survive. We had awful equipment, but we were going to have to make do, said Shoup. Then in stepped Huprich, who had seen the request in the East Holmes School District newsletter. During the February booster club meeting, Huprich walked in, took a seat and waited until the very end for her turn to speak. Her attendance at the meeting was simple and direct. She was there to help Shoup and the kids. Huprich said she is always blown away by the amazing talent of the high school kids in the annual musicals, as well as with the ongoing success of John Harris music department at Hiland High School. She knew that in order to keep that pipeline of talent flowing, the younger students needed to remain excited about music. It was important, and I knew I was going to donate this piano and do it in honor of my sister, Elaine (Heath), who passed away in 1987, said Huprich. Heath loved music and was instrumental in creating the popular local singing group Teen Sing Out. She knew Shoup was looking for a new piano for the following school year, but figured, why wait until then. The kids and the music department needed it now. The Yamaha piano allows Shoup to direct and play at the same time, and she can even record accompaniment on the piano. Music has meant so much to me and my family, said Huprich, who used to sing frequently with her sisters Elaine and Connie. I wanted to do something special in honor of Elaine, and also help the music department fill a huge need. So it is one down, one to go for the East Holmes Elementary program when it comes to taking care of the needs of the musical youth. Anyone interested in donating for a new piano for Walnut Creek may do so by mailing donations to Hiland Music Boosters, P.O. Box 275, Berlin 44610.

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