Katahdin music package benefactors

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
Sometimes jumping on an opportunity quickly can make a difference. That is what happened for Katahdin High School’s music department.
The Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor sent a mail proposal — a 2014 Music Package — offering 21 instruments to the first five schools that replied to the offer.    “We targeted schools within an hour and a half drive from the museum,” said Jim Neville, director of operations for the Cole Land Transportation Museum. “We sent the proposal to about 35 schools. The response was first-come, first-serve basis.”
Filling out the paperwork and faxing it promptly, first-year band instructor Jim Zabierek hoped for the best.
“When I saw this opportunity from the museum, I thought, it would be a great chance to pump some new life into our program,” explained Zabierek.
Katahdin High School was the first school to respond back to the museum’s offer, according to Neville’s files.
This is a pilot program for the museum who has given similar packages for school technology.
“We felt music was a place we could make an impact and get a good read on our ability to influence the kids,” Neville noted.
Cole Land Transportation Museum is able to offer such deals based on the success the museum enjoys.
“We recognize a need in the extracurricular departments knowing school budgets are not what they used to be,” Neville explained. “We have a lot of events at the museum that help the schools, as they help us. I think everyone will benefit from it.”
Northern Kingdom Music gave museum officials a “great deal,” Neville added.
The Katahdin instrumental music position had actually been cut during budget talks last year, but was reopened that summer after support from the community. Zabierek graduated from Katahdin in 2007 and he is excited to be back teaching at his alma mater.
Katahdin High School band currently has 20 students participating, so with the addition of 21 new instruments, Zabierek said, “It will be a huge boost for us.”
The instruments provided through the museum will help to replace older equipment for promising young players, who use poor quality instruments.
“We normally start students on instruments in the fifth grade,” Zabierek added. “But, with the new inventory, we may be able to start with fourth-graders. We are still ironing out the finer points in terms of scheduling and such.”
With the acceptance of Cole Land Transportation Museum offer, Katahdin High School has to fulfill an agreement with the museum.
“The conditions are that we would get 50 students together to take a field trip to the museum, take part in the Veteran Interview Program and have our band play at one of their events each year for the next five years,” said Zabierek.
A meeting will be scheduled where museum officials will come to Katahdin High School to hand out the instruments.
“They encourage anyone in the community to attend to show their gratitude,” said Zabierek. “We have not settled on a date yet. It possibly may be before February vacation. “We are very grateful for the opportunity and look forward to visiting and entertaining the folks at the museum as a thank you for the great boost to our program.” Zabierek said.
The equipment will include musical instruments plus a guitar and amplifier valued at $10,000.