MISSOULA – This week’s One Class at a Time grant winner is Dorothy Morrison who has been a General Music teacher at Lewis and Clark Elementary School in Missoula for 16 years.
Morrison will use the $250 grant to purchase ukuleles for her class.
"The ukulele -- since you and I were young -- the ukulele has really changed its perception in the public sphere. It's become very popular. It's not just Hawaii, it's not just Tiny Tim,” Morrison said.
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Morrison is working to buy 29 ukuleles. During the pandemic, students couldn't use wind instruments, so she borrowed some ukuleles and they turned out to be a hit with the kids. She says the instrument is a big part of popular music now, and a great teaching tool students can use forever.
"It's very satisfying to play the instrument. You're playing in an ensemble with everyone else. You're playing with accompaniment. And you're learning a lot of musical skills -- steady beats, manual dexterity, note reading, chord reading. Singing,” Morrison concluded.