Myraya Folsom enjoys listening to her mother, grandmother and aunts play the guitar.
"I really love how it sounds," the 17-year-old from Vanoss, Okla. said.
For the last year, Myraya said she too has tried to play the guitar.
"My mom tried to teach me but it wasn't working out too well," she said.
But thanks to a generous donation of guitars from Creative Entertainment Unlimited Inc. in Oklahoma City and the Chickasaw School of Guitar, Myraya and several other Chickasaw students will be displaying their skills during a recital.
The 12-week pilot program was formed early this year to put the donated guitars in the hands of interested students and provide them with an opportunity to learn to play them, said Laura Stewart, arts in education director for the Chickasaw Nation Division of Arts and Humanities.
"We didn't just want to give a student a guitar - what if it just sits in a closet and collects dust," Ms. Stewart said. "What we needed to do was figure out a way to give lessons to those students who really wanted to give this a try."
Participating students are provided with instruction and the opportunity to perform in a recital upon successful completion of the class. Students also receive the guitar after completing the course.
"We are very pleased to work with Creative Entertainment Unlimited on this project, because we believe it can enhance the lives of the students in meaningful ways," said Bill Anoatubby, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. "Learning to play a musical instrument is not only fun, it can also teach discipline, offer a sense of accomplishment and improve academic skills."
The free recital is open to public and will take place 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 at McSwain Theatre located at 130 W. Main in Ada, Okla.
The Chickasaw School of Guitar led by instructors Greg Griffin and Wayne Willis, both of Ada, is sponsored by the Chickasaw Nation Division of Arts and Humanities' Arts in Education program and seeks to bring music in the life of young Chickasaws. The program is open to Chickasaw youth, grades nine through 12.
For more information about the Chickasaw School of Guitar, please visit www.chickasaw.net or call (580) 272-5520.
