nothin' but net

Here's the sob story...

I teach music in a rural school. Many of the students are too poor to purchase their own instruments. The school has budget limitations that prevent me from buying a lot of new instruments. After spending last year watching quivering lips when a studenttold they couldn't join band because there was nothing left to play, I became desparate. I have come up with some money tuning pianos that I am wanting to buy instruments with.

If anyone has any music instruments that aren't getting used and would like to see them put to good use rather than collect more dust, let me know. I may be interested in buying it if it is not too expensive.

Thanks!

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boisesuns

Hmm. What kind of instruments are you looking for? Don't they have a teacher discount for buying instruments? Maybe you could write a letter to the school board, or do a fund raiser type thing. See if the community will get behind it.

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nothin' but net

Quote Hmm. What kind of instruments are you looking for?
Flutes, Clarinets, Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones.
Don't they have a teacher discount for buying instruments?
You can get discounted prices, but buying brand new means big $$ still. $400-1500 for beginner student models per instrument.
Maybe you could write a letter to the school board, or do a fund raiser type thing. See if the community will get behind it.
Tried it. The school does what they can. I have a budget but with cost of sheet music, festival entry fees and repairing the instruments we do have, the money gets wiped out. We have raised some money through fundraising, but with it being such a small school, the school has had to get some restrictions on the number of fundraisers we can do. (Incidentally, we are doing a fundraiser where you can get a year of ESPN the magazine, or renew your current subscription for $20. There is also a tax credit some pay into to recieve a dollar for dollar tax liability reduction up to $200 singly or $300 filing jointly, that we have had a bit of success with. I was just looking to combine the money I earned with whatever remained from the fundraising to get the most instruments. I could either buy one new, or several used. After a few years of teaching here, the program is starting to build, but I need to get more instruments in circulation or more will have to be turned away.


Thanks for your suggestions.

__________________
"For all the non-believers, don't ever doubt me"

-Amare Stoudemire

CardLogic

Rental instruments? In the metro area there are many stores which rent musical instruments. It is far cheaper than buying, especially considering that "middle-schooler" who desparately wants to play saxophone will become bored with the idea within 6-9 months and decide not to continue band.

$20/month X 12 = 240.00 for rental vs. $900-1500 to buy.

If there are no stores in the area which offer rentals, perhaps you could set up something yourself.

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AzCards21

I wonder if you could co-op with a bigger rental store in Phx or Tucson. Arrange for so many instruments to be set aside for you to pick up and rent at a discounted rate for a year.

Just a thought. And where in SE Az? I have a brother and niece in Wilcoxx.

nothin' but net

I am more in the Safford area.

Rental is a good idea. It works for many of the students. The local music store is set up with a large national chain where instruments can be rented for a pretty good rate. I am specifically trying to get instruments for the kids who's parents say no to even a $20 a month rental fee. I have bought the $7 beginner methods book for some because they can't afford it.

A lot of the kids parents are very poor. Migrant farm working for low $$
Single parent homes etc... They balk at a YEARLY activity fee of $20 that lets them participate in any extra activity. Kids that stay on the bus when traveling because they don't have $1 to buy a soda poor. Some who I know are from drug abusing homes and music is something that can help them, but their junkie parents would rather spend the money on drugs.

I am really going for maximizing the number of instruments for the small amount of money.

__________________
"For all the non-believers, don't ever doubt me"

-Amare Stoudemire