Before we get to the grant highlight about the new electric piano at Lakeside, this needs to be said: The bottom of Reeds Lake is not littered with abandoned player pianos. It’s an urban legend. Or, in our case, a suburban legend. Yes, we have those little statues in Regatta Plaza in Gaslight, but Mary Dersch at the East Grand Rapids History Room says it isn’t true. And that’s good enough for us. Fun story, though.
And now, the grant highlight.
Last summer, as music teachers Haley Kline and Sam Puggia were getting ready for the start of the school year, they noticed something alarming: The electric piano they counted on for many of their lessons at Lakeside had stopped working. When they dug into the piano’s history, they learned that it had served beyond its expected years.
Since it was time for a new one, Kline and Puggia turned to the Foundation, writing a grant request for $3,899, which the EGRSF board approved in special session so the piano would be ready for the start of school in the fall.
“The project fully met our goals and expected outcomes,” Kline says. “Our primary need was to replace a broken keyboard so that instruction and concert preparation could continue without interruption. The new keyboard has allowed us to seamlessly resume daily music activities, including rehearsals and performance preparation. Because it is used consistently across all grade levels, it has had an immediate and meaningful impact on both teaching and learning.
“This grant provided our music classroom with a new keyboard that is truly the heartbeat of our daily instruction. We use it every day for rehearsals, performances, listening activities, and interactive games. From preparing for concerts to giving students the chance to perform in class talent shows, this instrument supports both skill development and confidence. It ensures that every student has access to high-quality, engaging music experiences.”
And what did Kline and Puggia do with the old electric piano? They dumped it in Reeds Lake.
No! No! No, they didn’t! And don’t start that rumor! Mary Dersch will be very upset.
