The Clear Waters Life Center has been able to provide piano lessons to eight students who have never taken lessons before, thanks in part to grant support from the Bemidji Area Arts Endowment.
The grant from BAAE supported the nonprofit’s Youth Connection Piano Lab, offering group lessons to nine students, eight of whom had never taken lessons before.
“There is a need in our rural community for piano lessons to be more accessible,” reported the life center in a final grant report. “We are providing an opportunity that didn’t seem achievable to these families before.”
Clear Waters Life Center, which has locations in Clearbrook and Gonvick, is a faith-based community that works toward building lives, growing relationships, and impacting hope.
In the report, the nonprofit highlighted one student who had persevered through recent challenges, but whose creative spirit became evident throughout the lessons.
“(The student) is a very creative thinker and responds to music so (they) love being able to come to piano lessons and create beautiful sounds,” the report stated. “I’m so glad I get to tell (them that they are) very good at reading music and playing the piano.”
