Ukulele Donation Benefits Williamson County Students

Published May 11, 2017

Starting next year, hundreds of Williamson County students will have the chance to play and practice with brand new ukuleles thanks to a recent donation from Hawaii’s Music for Life Foundation and its founder Leo Daquioag.

A total of nine Williamson County schools will receive a donation of ukuleles thanks to a chance meeting on the other side of the country.

Williamson County resident Van Fletcher met Daquioag while at an event for the Grammy’s in California and the two hatched a plan to bring ukuleles to WCS.

Now, Heritage Elementary, Longview Elementary, Mill Creek Middle, Fairview Elementary, Crockett Elementary, Hillsboro School, Walnut Grove Elementary, Pearre Creek Elementary and Winstead Elementary will all be receiving ukuleles.

Pearre Creek was the first school to receive ukuleles when they arrived on May 9.

“We’re just really excited and thankful to have the ukuleles that were shipped from Hawaii to be played here at Pearre Creek, and we’re looking forward to making music on the ukuleles and bringing more of a string instrumental background into the classroom,” said PCES Music Teacher Anthony Bernhauser. “It’s going to be awesome. We’re hoping to use them with third, fourth and fifth grade next year.”

Fifteen WCS music teachers will receive professional development this summer on teaching ukulele in elementary school from Chip Henderson, jazz guitar instructor at MTSU.