Tipitina donates 25 instruments to Washington-Marion band
Published 6:27 am Wednesday, November 13, 2013
The Marching Jukebox will receive a boost Thursday when the Washington-Marion High School band is presented a donation of 25 instruments at the grand opening of the Tipitina’s Music Office Co-Op.
The band will perform at the event, which will also feature tours of the co-op, which is designed to provide workspace and access to computers and recording equipment for musicians, filmmakers and digital media professionals.
The donation is part of Tipitina’s Instruments A Comin’ program, which has provided instruments at state schools for more than a decade.
“The co-op is used by individuals who otherwise would not be financially able to use computers, record music; it is a way to learn how to record music and develop a knowledge and education,” said Marissa Allweiss of Tipitina’s.
“It allows you to develop your own identity in terms of music. We help developing artists. We have one in Alexandria, Shreveport, Monroe, Lafayette, New Orleans and Baton Rouge.”
Allweiss said the Instruments A Comin’ program strives to keep youth music programs alive.
“We focus on schools because a lot of the music programs are being cut,” she said.
“In New Orleans, a lot of the after-school programs were cut after Hurricane Katrinia. We found ourselves at the forefront in terms of preserving that cultural component so kids have additional programs to participate in. Playing an instrument gives a kid a sense of accomplishment. Being able to provide that kind of support to a kid or entire program is special. The kids love to participate in it.”
The grand opening will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday. The co-op is at 2128 Hodges St.
“We are going to have the award ceremony and the W-M band will perform,” Allweiss said. “We will have the co-op opening for tours and discussion. We will have live entertainment inside the co-op. We want the community to come out and support what we do.”
For more information on the event, call 433-5779 or visit tipitinasfoundation.org
The Washington-Marion Magnet High School Band. (Michelle Higginbotham / American Press)
