Music in Schools

Every once in a while, WUIS' musical staff has a golden opportunity to reach the children of Central Illinois by visiting a classroom, participating in a school assembly, and occasionally capturing the music made by local youth for broadcast on our air.

Music Director, Karl Scroggin, explains why WUIS' ability to keep classical and other music forms available to a wider, younger audience is so important to him.

"We have all met people in our lives whose influence has taken us down paths we might not have otherwise traveled. Teachers, relatives, pastors or friends who have all contributed to making us who we are today.

"I like to talk to young people about those things in our culture that have captured my imagination and led me to discover gifts I didn’t know I had.

"Now that I have come to a point in my life where there is more looking back than looking ahead, I want to share my story with the next generation. Share my Art and my love of music.

"I hope that I have inspired some young person somewhere, someway to take a journey of his or her own, to discover the vast treasure of our musical culture... I hope to 'pay it forward' that someday they too will share…" Karl Scroggin

Karl visited Owen Marsh Elementary to help with their study of the Middle Ages. He brought with him some instruments to demonstrate the music of the era.

• “Now I really want to play the guitar more!”
  
• “I hope you like what you do because you are good at it!”
  
• “I enjoyed how you played the lute so peacefully and so quietly.”
  
• “I thought the lute sounded like a harp. I play piano and recorder.”

Request a Visit

WUIS plans on expanding school visits beyond word-of-mouth and offering other local schools the opportunity for an educational visit. If you would like to know more about how to arrange for a Music In The Schools visit, please email us at wuis@uis.edu.

Music in the Schools is just one of the many outreach projects that was partially funded by a generous grant from The Meredith Foundation.

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