As the families waited in silent anticipation, the first note came flowing from the keyboard. Soon, the performer began tapping more notes out with no apparent rhyme or reason. This was obviously no Beethoven . . . yet.
Bill Rogers demonstrates the recorder on Saturday, and tells the students they will have their own recorders to practice with and to keep.
Thanks to one local couple with both passion and compassion, Saturday marked the beginning of a new world of music and creativity for children in Alachua who may otherwise have been left behind.
Alachua residents Bill and Wilma Rogers, along with a legion of volunteers, greeted area children Saturday morning at the Cleather Hatchock Community Center for the registration and introduction to the Music and Arts Programs for Youth, also known as M.A.P.
M.A.P., a music and arts education program for economically challenged youth, will be offered free of charge this summer to children ages 7 to 16.
The program will officially start on Saturday, June 11 and will be held two additional Saturdays in June, five Saturdays in July and two in August. Plans are to offer the program at Alachua’s Cleather Hathcock Community Center and the police department substation in the Merrillwood neighborhood.
But to give the future Beethovens and Celine Dions of Alachua an early taste, or sound, of their bright futures, Bill and Wilma Rogers offered the parents and children a presentation and allowed the children to play their first impromptu compositions on the keyboard.
Bill Rogers also showed the children their new conduits of musical expression, recorders, which will be provided to the children at no cost.
Knowing that no child can fully comprehend anything on an empty stomach, volunteer Rose Brown prepared hot dogs, chips, ice cream cones and ice cream sandwiches for the children.
High school seniors Rachael Fitz, Brittany Preston and Dayonna Thomas also volunteered to register youth and help facilitate the day.
Wilma Rogers said that thanks to the great turnout at the introduction on Saturday, she expects about 25 children to sign up for M.A.P.
Anyone interested in more information about the program can visit the M.A.P. Web site at www.mapforyouth.com, or e-mail the program directly at emailmapnow@gmail.com.
Bill Rogers demonstrates the recorder on Saturday, and tells the students they will have their own recorders to practice with and to keep.
Thanks to one local couple with both passion and compassion, Saturday marked the beginning of a new world of music and creativity for children in Alachua who may otherwise have been left behind.
Alachua residents Bill and Wilma Rogers, along with a legion of volunteers, greeted area children Saturday morning at the Cleather Hatchock Community Center for the registration and introduction to the Music and Arts Programs for Youth, also known as M.A.P.
M.A.P., a music and arts education program for economically challenged youth, will be offered free of charge this summer to children ages 7 to 16.
The program will officially start on Saturday, June 11 and will be held two additional Saturdays in June, five Saturdays in July and two in August. Plans are to offer the program at Alachua’s Cleather Hathcock Community Center and the police department substation in the Merrillwood neighborhood.
But to give the future Beethovens and Celine Dions of Alachua an early taste, or sound, of their bright futures, Bill and Wilma Rogers offered the parents and children a presentation and allowed the children to play their first impromptu compositions on the keyboard.
Bill Rogers also showed the children their new conduits of musical expression, recorders, which will be provided to the children at no cost.
Knowing that no child can fully comprehend anything on an empty stomach, volunteer Rose Brown prepared hot dogs, chips, ice cream cones and ice cream sandwiches for the children.
High school seniors Rachael Fitz, Brittany Preston and Dayonna Thomas also volunteered to register youth and help facilitate the day.
Wilma Rogers said that thanks to the great turnout at the introduction on Saturday, she expects about 25 children to sign up for M.A.P.
Anyone interested in more information about the program can visit the M.A.P. Web site at www.mapforyouth.com, or e-mail the program directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..