Music money

POLSON — Any high school instructor could use some extra cash to help in the classroom, but for Polson’s Richard Sawyer, more money is literally music to his ears.

The Plum Creek Foundation recently awarded tens of thousands of dollars in grants to teachers in Montana classrooms. The idea is that students’ education will be enhanced to its maximum potential. With that in mind, it’s crystal clear why Sawyer, Polson High School’s band teacher, was one of the instructors who was recently named a grant winner.

“It’s great; it’s good for the students,” Sawyer said. “I’m really excited about it.”

Sawyer, in his seventh year teaching at Polson and 10th overall, was awarded $4,348, which will go toward a myriad of technology, including SmartMusic, a program designed around each individual’s abilities.

SmartMusic allows students to play music, with the program having abilities such as slowing down a section of music to help students improve on tough sections, showing correct fingering for instruments and displaying which notes were played correctly or incorrectly based on pace and pitch.

“With this, it’ll help by using SmartMusic,” Sawyer said. “The students can play with a full band accompaniment and assess themselves. It doesn’t take away from my assessment of them, but it helps them prepare.”

Sawyer hopes this wave of technology he interjects into his classroom will allow his students to take the next step in their music education. During the big Montana-Montana State football game, Sawyer saw five former students in the Cat and Griz marching bands.

Things like that are what Sawyer hopes to see continue down the road and now, with the help of Plum Creek, he’s hoping to see more results.

“I like to create an appreciation for music that lasts beyond high school,” Sawyer said. “I want kids to be into music because of Polson.”

The new technology should be implemented by next semester, allowing Sawyer and his students the chance to try some different things.

“We’re doing a recording class next semester,” Sawyer said.

Despite his dedication to his students, Sawyer wasn’t the only individual responsible for receiving the grant.

“I had help from former assistant principal Shawn Hendrickson, who introduced me to the grant,” Sawyer said, adding that Hendrickson helped him with aspects of the grant, such as the description of the proposal as well as the timeline for it.

With a few thousand dollars now available for Sawyer, he had only one thing left to say as he prepares to put the money to good use.

“I’d like to thank Plum Creek for this opportunity,” Sawyer said.