THURMONT, Md. (AP) — Donovan Gibbs was just hoping for a snow day.
At 5:30 a.m. one day in January, Donovan had his eyes glued to Frederick County Public Schools channel 18, waiting to see if Thurmont Middle School would open with a delay or be closed.
School opened on time that day, but Donovan had an idea to make FCPS TV viewing more enjoyable.
Instead of hearing only music by professionals, he decided to submit his music to be included in the playlist.
Donovan, 13, delivered a CD with three songs to FCPS video production specialist Paul Puglisi.
Six months later, it’s not just Donovan’s music playing on FCPS TV.
Channel 18 now plays only student-produced music during its Bulletin Board programming, which lists school closings, upcoming events, employment opportunities and other information.
Before the switch, Puglisi said, the school system had not thought of using student-produced music.
Donovan said it makes him feel special that his idea led to an opportunity for other musicians.
“As soon as I found that out, I was so excited,” he said. “I didn’t expect that at all.”
Donovan was the catalyst of the switch to student music, Puglisi said, and when FCPS solicited more music from students, the reaction was almost immediate.
The school system now has about 90 minutes of student music to play during Bulletin Board programming, which airs about five to seven hours every day, Puglisi said.
“It’s great that they (students) have that outlet, and we were happy to provide that for them,” he said.
Donovan, a self-taught musician, started playing the piano when he was 8 years old.
He has since taught himself guitar and drums.
He tried music lessons, but they just weren’t for him.
“I wasn’t learning what I wanted to learn quick enough,” he said.
Donovan started playing music when he received a keyboard for Christmas that he didn’t even ask for.
But with the keyboard, he wanted to learn how to play tunes from movie soundtracks and video games.
After realizing he loved to play, he pulled out some old instruments from his father’s time playing in a Christian band in the late 1990s.
Today, he records music at home and at Secret Sound Studio in Baltimore.
“It just started off from something small,” Donovan said of his music.
Donovan and his father, Richard, regularly play during church services and at open mic nights at local coffeehouses.
They perform both music Donovan has written and some covers. Donovan said his biggest goal is to stick with music, and he hopes to help other young musicians along the way.
“Mostly, I want to keep recording and hopefully make a career out of it,” he said.
