Alex Lambert has been playing piano since Kindergarten, and he was excited to hear that Wareham Middle School had recently been donated a baby grand piano. But his excitement isn't just for himself.

“It will probably inspire others to enjoy and play music,” said Lambert, an 11-year-old sixth-grader. “It’s nice to see fresh instruments in the school for all the kids to enjoy. I’m excited to see if it catches on with the students.”

The new piano, which was donated by a Dr. Stephen Menkes of Falmouth, was recently transported to the middle school. Principal Dan Minkle said Dr. Andrea Schwab, director of curriculum and instruction at Wareham Public Schools, had heard that Menkes was looking to donate the piano to an area school, and Minkle immediately expressed interest.

When he and Assistant Principal Dan LaFavor went down to see the piano a few weeks ago, it was clear it would be a perfect fit for them. The piano they currently had at the school was in disrepair, and Minkle said it would have been very expensive to fix.

“As soon as we saw it, we knew it was for us,” said Minkle from the school’s auditorium Tuesday, where the new piano is now located. “It’s ours and we’re thrilled to have it.”

Minkle said that Menkes recently retired from his practice in Falmouth, and is in the process of relocating to Maryland.

“He wanted to make sure it was being used by schoolchildren,” said Minkle.

“I believe in paying back,” said Menkes, a former obstetrician/gynecologist who in the past opened a child advocacy center in New York for abused children. “I believe music is from the soul and from the heart. Instead of selling it, my family and I decided to give it to the school district so children can play the instrument. Young people can gain and learn from playing and listening to music.”

Minkle said that because of budget cuts in the past, the role of music had diminished in Wareham’s schools, but for the past few years, there’s been an effort to bring music back.

“We had a joint concert with all the schools last year, and now we have an active band in progress,” said Minkle, noting that the school has received numerous donations of musical instruments in the past few months. “We plan to continue to place an emphasis on the arts to offer kids a more balanced educational experience. I can’t imagine this school without a music program.”

An avid fan of music himself, Minkle thanked Menke, the Onset Jazz Festival, and others for the recent donations.

“We’re on a roll in terms of adding to our music program,” added Minkle, saying that one of his next goals is to bring a chorus to the school. “I want to hear some voices in song.”