Gilroy
– President Bush may have stolen his line, but that doesn’t slow
Dale Connell’s drive to foster a love of music in children.
”
No child should be left behind, and every child should have the
chance to learn music,
”
Connell said.
Gilroy – President Bush may have stolen his line, but that doesn’t slow Dale Connell’s drive to foster a love of music in children.
“No child should be left behind, and every child should have the chance to learn music,” Connell said.
Connell presented a $50,000 donation this week to the Connell Family Music Fund, which he established in 1997 along with his wife Ruth. Through the Gilroy Foundation, the money goes to music programs in the district.
Part of the fund goes toward a summer music program, launched three years ago, for below-grade-level students who are enrolled in remedial classes during the summer to help prepare them for the next school year. During the six-week program, music director Gretchen Vandenberg works with the students to build a repertoire of songs that the students perform.
“If you’ve ever seen one of these programs, it brings tears to your eyes,” said Connell, 90. “It’s such a wonderful, beautiful thing.”
About 150 students enrolled in the summer music program during its inaugural year. That number jumped to 400 in 2003 then again to 600 in August, when classes had to be split into morning and afternoon sessions, Connell said.
Connell presented Gilroy Foundation Executive Director Donna Pray with the donation check at Monday’s school board meeting. Past board president Jaime Rosso thanked the Connells for the generous contributions they’ve made over the past several years to support the district’s music programs.
Connell and his wife started the fund because they thought music was being neglected in Gilroy schools, he said, and they wanted to do all they could to ensure students in Gilroy receive music education.
Academic achievement and learning music go hand in hand, Connell said.
“It’s been proven time and time again that kids learn better when they have music education. Grade averages go up by 34 percent,” he said. “When you sing by yourself, you’ve got one voice. When you sing with two voices, you have two voices. With three voices, it’s a harmony, and with four, you’ve got a quartet and you’re in business.”
Another reason to encourage music in schools is the effect it has on students’ perspectives, Connell said.
“Music is fun. It’s happy. You never see kids singing with a frown on their faces. They’re always smiling when they’re singing,” he said. “And when they’re singing, they’re not out getting into trouble or putting graffiti on walls.”
Six of Connell’s nine great-grandchildren are enrolled in GUSD schools. His son and four grandchildren and son also attended Gilroy schools.
Connell moved to Gilroy in 1947 and serve as a GUSD trustee in the early ’50s. In 1958, he got into real estate and worked in the business until retirement.
“I’ve never taught music myself, but I can play a kazoo real good,” he said.
