Keys for Kids program delivers piano

Jim Hanson tunes a piano. photo by Jim Mitchell Taylor Del Guidice doesn't have to look far to find a place to practice on the piano.

Last week the third piano of the Sisters Jazz Festival Keys for Kids program was delivered to the eighth grader's home. This was the first upright piano to become available through the program via Jim Hanson, who refurbishes, tunes and delivers them.

The previous two pianos, both baby grands, went to Sisters High School and SOAR. Although the original intent of the Keys for Kids program was to provide pianos to promising Sisters students, most houses do not have space for a baby grand. So this upright piano was targeted for a home.

Taylor's mother, Antonietta (Toni), who teaches art to home-schooled children through the Sisters School District, learned about Keys for Kids through working with the jazz festival. She expressed an interest in getting a piano for Taylor. At the end of the school year Jody Henderson advised her that a piano would be available in the summer

Funds for refurbishing this piano were made available by the Hodecker Family Fund and the Cameron Family Fund through The Oregon Community Foundation.

Taylor Del Guidice was in the fifth grade when she came to Sisters from Mill Valley, California. Then she started to play the violin. She also dances and likes hip-hop best.

Taylor says, "I've grown up around a lot of people with pianos. I want to learn the piano because it is something I can play my whole life, like the violin."

Taylor plans to become involved in the Americana Project, being offered in Sisters Middle School for the first time this year.

The Sisters Jazz Festival is accepting tax-deductible donations of pianos and money to support the Keys for Kids program. Contact Saf Canja at 549-1175.