Schools rely on fundraising to secure band instruments

Throughout the year, area schools delight audiences with concerts that celebrate spring, the holidays, and other special times. But making beautiful music is expensive. A trombone can set musicians back $700, a flute, $500, a tuba can run $3,000 or more.

That’s why, when the St. Regis School music program needed a baritone saxophone to replace their aging instrument, music teacher, Derek Larson thought of creating a Gofundme page and asked for donations. The new sax will cost $3,600 and to-date the fundraiser has made $2,815.

“We are in the process of raising money to replace a baritone saxophone that is nearly at the end of its life. The repairman says the instrument has reached a point where it is not really worth fixing anymore,” Larson wrote in his description, “we just got the old saxophone back from the shop and are anxious to replace it before it needs to take yet another trip into the shop this year. I try my best to get the kids quality instruments because they are really an amazing group of kids and work hard for me.”

Larson is excited about the generosity of the community and hopes to reach their goal by March of 2017. All three area high schools are in need of instruments and donations, to keep their programs running smoothly, and musically.

Amber Winter, the music teacher for Superior, said she has 82 students in band from grades 5 through 12. Of those students, 65 rely on the use of the school’s equipment, with every instrument currently in use.

“I have absolutely no extras, so when a student asks to join the band, I have to scurry to find them something to play,” she said.

If an instrument is out for repairs, the students have to go without, sometimes for weeks at a time. She even loans out her own personal instruments to help fill the gap and some students share instruments.

“It’s very hard for a student to play an instrument that’s not in good condition,” Winter said.

Though the school is trying to rotate new equipment into the program and retire aging instrument, it may take years to get caught up to the point where they have a good inventory.

Winter also purchases instruments on Ebay when she sees a good deal, but doesn’t recommend parents do the same, “there’s a lot of massed produced, poor quality junk being offered that they call “instruments”. I’m always happy to give recommendations for quality instrument brands.”

If residents have old instruments they would like to donate, or make a cash donation to the music program, they should contact their area schools.