Kate Francis, Viktoria Truesdail secure $60,000 in music grants

MADISON – Music teachers Kate Francis at Midtown Elementary School and Viktoria Truesdail at Horizon Elementary School received Alabama Arts Initiative grants from the State Department of Education.

“This is the second grant that each of us has received for our respective schools totaling $60,000 of combined funding for Midtown and Horizon music programs for the Madison City School District,” Francis said.

Francis will expand the new fourth-grade violin unit and Midtown’s after-school orchestra program. Truesdial’s grant project will institute a world and therapeutic drumming unit to Horizon.

In 2025, Francis secured $14,000; in 2026, she collected $13,500 in Alabama Arts Initiative grants. “From the first grant, we purchased 32 violins, instrument storage and string supplies, like instrument bows, rosin and strings. These violins (are) part of the Fourth-Grade Violin Program called “Starting from Scratch” for all 197 fourth-graders at Midtown to receive nine weeks of weekly violin instruction,” Francis said.

“Students learned basic note literacy, proper posture and using the bow. In the final week, each fourth-grade class presented an ‘Informance’ (informal performance) for their parents,” Francis said. The ‘Informance’ was a story with students playing sound effects on the violins. “It was a great way to have parents on the Midtown campus; students had fun showcasing the new skills they had learned.”

Francis’ current grant will apply to 40 non-collapsible music stands and storage carts, along with additional violins and cellos to loan to students interested in After-School Orchestra but unable to rent an instrument.

Truesdail’s current grant, “Scales and Tales,” at Horizon for $20,000 applied to xylophones, glockenspiels, metalaphones, library books and arts integration. For next school year, “Drumming Up Success” for $10,000 will provide world drums and Truesdail’s professional development at a drumming workshop and a course on therapeutic drumming. Previously in Madison County Schools, she received two other grants for $20,000 each for a music playground, Chromebooks and instruments.

For Francis’ grant, the process was in-depth with lots of writing. She had to complete research for the most impact to students and supplies. She devoted a few weekend days of planning and one weekend of writing.

“Luckily, my Godmother is a professional grant writer and college professor who helps me by proofreading everything before it gets submitted,” Francis said.

“It’s important that your mission (aligns) with the mission of the organization providing the grant,” Francis said. “For both grants, I had to document the number of students that the funds would affect. Midtown Elementary’s strings program (nine-week violin unit and after- school orchestra) reflects the vision of the (state department) to strengthen arts education in schools.”

“The programs give students the opportunity to learn an instrument, collaborate with peers and experience the joy of making music together,” Francis said.

Franics has been making music since she started playing violin as a four-year-old and trombone at 15 years old. She was in band and orchestra in high school and college. She played in University of Michigan’s orchestra. Any fourth- or fifth-grader can join Midtown’s beginning orchestra. Intermediate orchestra is open to students who complete beginning orchestra. No audition and all are welcome, she said. Midtown’s beginning orchestra has 65 members – double the enrollment from last year. Eleven students are in intermediate orchestra. “Students can learn violin, viola or cello. I’m still waiting for a brave soul to choose bass!” Francis said.

The Midtown Orchestra Concert will be presented on May 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Midtown cafeteria. “Our Carnegie Hall!” Francis said.

Francis would love to see an orchestra at every elementary school, middle school and high school in Madison City Schools. In the fall, Francis and Truesdail collaborated and taught two classes for fourth grade on Monday mornings.

“I taught the beginning violin unit while Mrs. Truesdail assisted and observed. Then she taught the bucket drumming unit while I assisted and observed,” Francis said. “Then I delivered the bucket drumming unit to all Midtown fourth- and fifth-graders. They loved it!”

In turn, Truesdail delivered beginning violin to Horizon’s fourth- and fifth-graders. “It was one of the most fun and collaborative teaching experiences I’ve had in my career so far,” Francis said.

Truesdail said these grants are quite extensive and require lots of time to prepare. Printed, her proposal was 12 pages. She researched the drumming’s benefits for emotional and physical growth of students.

“Some factors that they look for in this grant are how it will benefit students, who will benefit, how it will help the community and how it will benefit the teacher through professional development,” Truesdail said.

In fifth grade, Truesdail joined band and orchestra to play oboe. “I continued playing in ensembles at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio and during my graduate studies at the University of Florida,” she said.

All grade levels at Horizon will experience world and therapeutic drumming. “We also have a bucket drumming club for students in grades 3-5; we’ll add some world drumming next year,” Truesdail said. “We’ve added a nine-week violin unit and the Violin Club for fourthand fifth-graders, inspired by Mrs. Francis’ success at Midtown.”

Horizon Bucket Drumming Club recently performed at Bob Jones High School in the “Burgers and Bands Concert” with drum lines from Discovery Middle School and Bob Jones. “We’ll perform a concert in May at Horizon. This concert has become an annual event with our drummers as opening act for the older students. It’s so much fun!” Truesdail said.

“Kate and I love sharing teaching ideas with each other and colleagues. We have both presented at the Alabama Music Education Association Conference in hopes to get other teachers in Alabama to start drumming and string programs,” Truesdail said.