Jamm_09-42

Jeff Green | Oct 22, 2009

Norm and Vivian Mattice present Dennis Larocque of Larocque Masonry (centre) with a Blueridge Bristol guitar for the JAMM program

On October 18, at the Bedford hall during the regular Frontenac Old Time music Sunday Bedford jam session, Dennis Larocque of Larocque Masonry in Sharbot Lake was presented with an acoustic Blueridge Bristol guitar by Norm and Vivian Mattice.

The guitar, donated by the Mattices and raffled off at the Frontenac Old Time Music Championships held in Godfrey this past summer was won by Roy Leonard and given to Dennis Larocque to be used in the Junior Achievement through Music Mentorship (JAMM) program.

The program, a co-partnership with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS) of Lanark County and Larocque Masonry was developed last year by Dennis and his cousin Brad Larocque who works with the BBBS.

The program is offered to grade 7 and 8 school children who might otherwise not have access to musical instruments and instruction and ran for the first time last spring at the Sharbot Lake High school and will be offered there again this upcoming winter semester.

Currently 24 students at the Duncan J. Schoular Public School in Smiths Falls are involved in the JAMM program.

JAMM is currently looking for volunteer teachers to assist in the program. Anyone interested can contact Dennis Larocque at 613-279-2623 or Brad Larocque at 613-283-0570.