Sometimes it’s not a direct request that gets the most attention. Sometimes it’s just what’s heard in passing.

That’s how Lance Holman heard about the need for guitars at Troy Elementary School and, as a result, the school now has 20 guitars for its music program.

“Two years ago, I just happened to hear Troy Elementary School music teacher, Elaine Blocher, mention that she would like to have guitars for her music program,” said Holman, who is president of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, professional music fraternity for men at Troy University. “So I mentioned it to the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha, and we decided to use the funds raised from our Battle of Bands as a philanthropy for the music program at Troy Elementary School.”

On Wednesday, the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia presented a check in the amount of $2,000, to Blocher for the purchase of classical guitars.

Blocher and TES Principal Geoffrey Span expressed appreciation to the music fraternity for their interest and their generosity.

“These instruments will make it possible for us to have a more varied music program and give our students an opportunity for hands-on experiences on another type instrument,”

Spann said. “We want to thank Phi Mu Alpha for their support of the music program at Troy Elementary School.”

The guitars are excellent instruments for those who want to learn to play acoustic instruments because it’s easy to apply what has been learned to other instruments, Holman said.

Blocher said the guitars are great additions to the TES music program and will provide students with an opportunity to become familiar with another musical instrument and one that students think is “cool.”

“Guitar music can be integrated into other subject areas, especially social studies,” Blocher said. “Our music culture is traced back to folk music. It is our musical heritage and by learning to play the guitar, our students will learn many folk songs and learn to appreciate folk music. Folk music flows across the curriculum.”

Holman said brothers of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia were proud to foster the love of American music through the purchase of the guitars.

“We’ll be excited to hear these young students on the guitars,” he said.

Phi Mu Alpha has 29 active brothers and about two-thirds of them are music majors.

“Not all of our brothers are music majors, and that’s not a requirement,” Holman said. “All that we ask is that our brothers love music and advocate music in the arts.

“Phi Mu Alpha supports the John M. Long School of Music with manpower and financial support so we are active and involved in the advocation of music at Troy University and beyond.”