Do You Know What the Acronym FOM Stands For?

Which Garden City organization presented the school district with four computerized Smartboards last year, one each for the elementary schools, the middle school and the high school? Every student in the district’s music program will benefit from our donation on the classroom level. Which Garden City organization provided funds this year to purchase microphones and headphones for music performances at the high school? Which Garden City organization provided funds last year to the high school to commission a nationally acclaimed string composer, Brian Balmages, to write a work entitled Phantom Tangos for the high school orchestra” Which organization paid for the microphones needed to enhance the new Smartmusic instructional program being used by every band student at Garden City Middle School? Which Garden City organization also paid for a Superscope Technologies recording system in the Garden City Middle School band room? Which Garden City organization helped defray the costs for the marching band to compete in the New York State championships last year?

You may be surprised to hear that it is the Friends of Music, a not-for-profit organization whose sole purpose is to encourage Garden City music students and promote the music programs at our schools. None of these expenditures was covered by the school district’s budget. The Garden City Friends of Music has approximately 700 families as its members. Please be among those that join us this year. Your $20 donation is used to pay directly for equipment and program enhancement for grades K through 12. In addition to the membership dues, we raise money through our popular flower sales prior to the concerts at our elementary, middle and high schools.

The membership drive for the year 2009 is now underway. Look for your membership flyer to arrive in your mailbox or mail your donation to Garden City Friends of Music, PO Box 211, Garden City, NY 11530. We would like to thank many of you who have so generously supported us year after year through your donations and your time. We are always looking for people who would like to become more involved. Don’t miss this opportunity to further advance the music education of all students in Garden City. For further information, please call Linda Martines at 873-0203.