Community pitches in to donate guitars

Last November, Warm Springs Middle School music teacher Sandra Rentschler asked the community for guitar donations to the music program.

Area residents responded quickly and a few weeks ago, the middle school reached its goal of 22 guitars.

A large donation came from an architect in the Washington, D.C. area who was looking to move to the Berkeley Springs area. Jairo Delgado, a native of Columbia, had been involved with music for many years in his hometown. He read the article and decided to purchase 10 guitars from The Red Guitar to donate to the music program.

Another large donation came from Dan Putnam, who donated a Fender Stratocaster and a 12-string ovation guitar. Rentschler thought these guitars were too valuable for the wear and tear a middle school student might put on them. She talked it over with Putnam and was able to sell the guitars to Johnathan McBee at The Red Guitar for store credit. She then purchased eight student guitars and four stands for the guitars while not in use.

Other donations came from Karl Shrader, Mary Ingraham, Jean Stanton and Clarence McBee, who either purchased new guitars or donated their own.

Picking up quickly

Rentschler said the guitar students are picking up on the notes and chords very quickly. They learned eight or nine chords in about three weeks, she continued.

The kids are doing great with the guitars, she said. They are very responsible with the instruments.

Rentschler feels that teaching hands on concepts are important. The kids learn by doing, she said.

I want my students to learn that music is attainable, said Rentschler.

Donations are still greatly appreciated and Rentschler can be contacted at 304-210-5043 or leave a message for her at the middle school at 258-1500.