Young Musicians Flock to MHS For Sign Ups

On Tuesday evening, students in grades 4-12 in the Milton Public Schools had a chance to sign up for the Applied Lesson Program (ALP) instrumental lessons, which is coordinated with the instrumental curriculum taught in the schools.

The after-school lessons, which run Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 9 p.m., are taught at Milton High School. The half-hour classes are taught privately or semi-privately, which is two students at the same level.

Lessons are offered for the following instruments: flute, clarinet, saxaphone, oboe, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, French horn, violin, viola, electric bass, guitar, cello, bass and drum kit.

On Tuesday, after signing up for a lesson, students could rent an instrument from Rayburn Musical Instruments, or borrow an instrument from the school. The loaner instruments were available free of charge to students.

Students at the sign ups picked their respective instruments for a variety of reasons. Siblings A.J. and Celia Cullinane were at the event to check out loaner cellos.

Celia, a fifth grade student, said she enjoyed the sound of the instrument. 

"I always wanted to play and instrument," said her sixth grade brother. "I chose to play the cello with my sister."

Ruby D'Amato, also a fifth-grader, will be joining the Cullinanes as a cellist. She chose the instrument because of the sound also.

"It's a nice mix of the violin and the bass," said Ruby.