FORT MILL, S.C. — Folks strolling into Lowe's to shop for spring projects this weekend got a special treat in Fort Mill.
More than 50 students from Gold Hill Elementary School (GHES) performed a free concert outside the home improvement store on Saturday morning, drumming buckets and playing recorders.
Their teacher, Christopher Morgan, has used a variety of musical techniques in public schools for the past eight years. But he ran into a bit of a problem when he came to GHES.
"I didn't have the same resources that I did previously. So I started writing grants to get needed supplies," Morgan told NBC Charlotte.
Morgan wrote one grant to Lowe's asking for buckets in return for a concert.
"As an educator in my content area, I try and connect local businesses and my programs, it's a win-win. Companies help out my music program, and we advertise for them everywhere we play," said Morgan.
The teacher also wrote to the PTO to provide the drumsticks. Both requests were granted.
The fourth graders performed two songs on Saturday: CAN'T STOP THE FEELING! by Justin Timberlake and We Will Rock You by Queen.
The third graders also played a song written by two of the students on recorders.
Morgan said he will use the buckets year-round for many types of lessons.
"I have a drum set in my classroom but not enough for every student so we learn basics on buckets," he said. "We can get four different sounds out of the bucket, and every student can have one."
"They also are far easier to move and stack," Morgan added.