Published September 26, 2006 12:00 am -
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP - - Today kicks off "Putting Old Instruments into New Hands," a program to help students get started playing band instruments.
Lakeside High School Band director Joseph Tredent said the prog ..
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SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP - - Today kicks off "Putting Old Instruments into New Hands," a program to help students get started playing band instruments.
Lakeside High School Band director Joseph Tredent said the program will accept donated instruments and give them to fifth-grade students in Ashtabula Area City Schools who would like to be in the school band.
The instruments will given to students whose parents can't afford to purchase instruments for their children.
Today, a new flute can cost about $500 and a new saxophone $800, Tredent said.
"So many students in the district would like to play in the band but have no means to do so," he said.
The program is accepting flutes, clarinets, trombones and trumpets. The instruments don't have to be in excellent condition.
Tredent is hoping to work with a few music stores to see whether they would refurbish the instruments for the district.
Once the instruments are refurbished, they would be lent to the students, he said.
The only charge to the parents would be a $15 annual service charge to have the instrument inspected or repaired, Tredent said.
Approval of the program is pending from the board of education, but Tredent was given permission to begin the used-instrument campaign, he said.
The district has between 80 to 100 students who begin playing in the school band during fifth grade.
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