MSU College of Music Loans Digital Pianos As Students Face Hardship
Michigan State College of Music is supplying students with digital pianos so they can prepare for required recitals at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michigan State University College of Music is partnering with Grand Rapids-based West Michigan Piano to loan MSU students digital pianos during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was a drastic change of trying to just figure out what are basic needs right now.” — Mary Luisi Lapprand, Michigan State University
Mary Luisi Lapprand, head piano technician at the College of Music, says students have faced hardships after being sent home mid-March as part of state-mandated closures to protect against viral spread. Some students have lost access to practice facilities.
“It’s the last month of the academic year, and usually degree students have a required recital to complete,” Lapprand says. “It was a drastic change of trying to just figure out what are basic needs right now.”
Others, she said, have received noise complaints from neighbors due to practicing at home.
Eight students have received digital pianos and will be allowed to keep the instruments until further notice.
Click on the player above to hear MSU’s Mary Luisi Lapprand on the difficulties music students are facing during the pandemic.
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