The East End Community School on Munjoy Hill has been selected to participate in a music pilot program that will start in the fall for fourth & fifth grade students according to a press release issued by William Sumner, lead secretary at the School.  On Wednesday, May 3rd Timothy Fulwider, a music teacher at EECS participated in an award ceremony at the Maine State Library, Augusta.  The Portland school was one of only ten schools in Maine selected to participate in this Maine Department of Education pilot program that is in partnership with a non-profit nationwide – Little Kids  Rock.

The instruments available for the School’s use include electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards and a drum set.

Fulwider, who applied for the pilot program, relocated to Portland from Nashville, TN.  At Gower Elementary School in West Nashville, he taught the modern band curriculum to students in grades 1 – 4 and started an extracurricular ensemble that performed in the local community.  EECS music teachers Dan Nagar and Tim Fulwider will attend a training program this August along with other music teachers from the State of Maine.

Criteria for the Maine DOE award were based on need, sustainability and quality of proposed program.  School districts must serve 50% or more free or reduced lunches to eligible students and agree to offer modern band instruction during the 2017-2018 school season by  certified music teachers.