Edhat StaffSource: Mikayla McNair, Santa Barbara Education Foundation
Students of all backgrounds in the Santa Barbara Unified School District have the opportunity to participate in music education, but it begins with the generosity of the public. Since 2008, hundreds of instruments have been donated through the Instrument Drive to our local schools and provided to students who cannot afford to purchase or rent those of their own. Donations are accepted at any time, but before the start of the new school year in August, be sure to donate any and all instruments to our young aspiring musicians.
The Instrument Drive increases the potential amount of band and orchestra students more than you might think. As Karen Dutton, SBUSD music instructor explains: “Most kids come into the program without their own instrument, so receiving these gifts of instruments is truly a blessing!” Thanks to instrument donors, music education reaches a wider demographic of students, consequently increasing the quality and equity of our students’ education.
Exhibiting just how indispensable this program is, Dutton shares Sergio’s story: “[He] came to SBJH [Santa Barbara Junior High] last year not speaking much English and not having played an instrument. He sat and listened for about a week and decided he wanted to play the trumpet.” With the help of the public’s generosity, the Instrument Drive provided Sergio with a trumpet, and “within a few weeks, he had surpassed the playing ability of most of my other trumpet players.”
Sergio found a special talent, undiscovered and unattainable before receiving the donated trumpet, and his is only one story of many. Any donations are accepted through the whole year at the Santa Barbara Education Foundation office (1330 State Street, Suite 201), Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm, but preferably before the beginning of the new school year, August 21st. Donated instruments will be inspected and refurbished, and acceptable, working instruments will be given to local schools to be loaned to students. For more information, contact Katie Szopa at the SBEF office (805-284-9125) or visit SBEF online.
