Letter: Thank You to the New Jersey Workshop for the Arts and the Westfield Foundation
Dear Editor,
I am proud to share my experience at the summer program hosted by the New Jersey Workshop for the Arts. I am also thrilled to express my gratitude for receiving the Youth Employment Grant supported by the Westfield Foundation.
The New Jersey Workshop for the Arts is an incredible nonprofit organization that I have had the pleasure of being a part of for many years. The NJWA arranges music lessons, musical therapy and lively workshops for anyone willing to participate, and in addition provides opportunities to the underprivileged.
The New Jersey Workshop for the Arts’ summer program that I was a part of allowed me the wonderful opportunity to work in a music classroom teaching various degrees of music to children ages 4-14. I was fortunate to work alongside Diane Silvester, a music teacher for the Summit Public Schools. I am thankful to the New Jersey Workshop for the Arts for allowing me to expand my musical horizons in the direction of teaching and pursuing a potential future.
This experience is truly unrivaled in exposure. The opportunity the New Jersey Workshop for the Arts provides to work with children and learn so much about not only the actual aspects of teaching music, but the maintenance behind it is astounding.
I am glad to have been able to connect with the children, especially those that cling to music. I can remember in particular these two twins whose grandfather is a musician and conductor. They are constantly around a band, and bring their experience into the classroom, using sticks and batons to conduct the classroom together during activities. Seeing moments like these make me incredibly grateful to the New Jersey Workshop for the Arts and the Westfield Foundation that allowed and supported me in doing this.
In working at the camp, my musical career has been enchanted and inspired by those around me. The personal responsibility that is persisted by an occupation is a doubtlessly important quality that can only be learned through experience.
I am proud of myself and my colleagues for being able to learn from each other and the children how to handle any situation that could be thrown at us. I am extremely grateful to the New Jersey Workshop for the Arts and the Westfield Foundation for providing me this honor, and am looking forward to working with them again in the future!
With a resounding endorsement, The Westfield Foundation recently voted in three new board members: Toni Janota, Michael Moye and Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift, all of Westfield. At the same time, the organization recognized the service of outgoing members: Tim Boyle, Stan Gersch and Rich Elbert.
Sincerely,
Sloan Dossin
Read the original post here.