Allison O’Shea, president of the local Eta Alpha Chapter of Psi Iota Xi sorority, presenting a check for $3000 to Kara Barnard for her Silver Strings program.
Submitted photo
The Eta Alpha Chapter of Psi Iota Xi recently voted to recognize local musician and instructor, Kara Barnard, and her Silver Strings mountain dulcimer program.
Kara teaches weekly classes at the local YMCA, where she gives folks the opportunity to expand their musical skills through sharing her love of the mountain dulcimer. In September 2022, Kara won the National Mountain Dulcimer Contest in Winfield, Kansas. Because teaching is her passion, Kara has a roster of around 50 students every week, who visit her cabin to learn guitar, banjo, dulcimer, and mandolin.
Kara saw a need for a program where residents of assisted-living facilities could learn to play an instrument, and knew that the 3-string dulcimer would be a fun and logical choice. She has developed a full program that is first introduced to the activities directors at each participating care facility. The Silver Strings program includes the dulcimers, music books, some specialized equipment, and CDs that the activities directors can then use to teach the fundamentals of playing music. Even those residents who may have limited mobility and are confined to a wheelchair, or those who have arthritic hands, can be successful. Kara’s program incorporates simple, familiar melodies to engage her students, and she shares their joy when a face lights up with pride in their personal accomplishment of playing a tune. Kara has already introduced the Silver Strings program to numerous assisted-living centers in Indiana and Kentucky.
The members of the Nashville chapter are proud to know Kara and through their gift of $3000, encourage and support her goal of growing this valuable resource for the senior citizens of Brown County and beyond.
Psi Iota Xi is a philanthropic organization, founded in Muncie, Indiana, in 1897, and has chapters in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky. The sorority promotes the appreciation of art, literature, music, and advancements in the field of speech &hearing. The annual sales of Spring Flowers and Fall Mums are the means by which money is raised to advance these endeavors. It is with gratitude to our friends and families and their support of Psi Ote fundraisers that our sorority can contribute to the Brown County community in a meaningful way.
For more information on the Silver Strings program, please contact Kara at KaraBarnard.com.
