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Help Colorado students get musical instruments during this annual drive

Bringing Music to Life is gearing up for its annual Instrument Drive, bringing the gift of music to Colorado students in underfunded music programs.

Bringing Music to Life is gearing up for its annual instrument drive, bringing the gift of music to Colorado students in underfunded music programs: March 5 – 17, 2018.

They are asking for people to bring gently-used band or orchestra instruments they no longer play to any of 16 donation locations across the state. All locations can be found on the Bringing Music to Life website donation page here

Technicians at the Colorado Institute of Musical Instrument Technology (CIOMIT) will repair the donated instruments for delivery to deserving music school programs before the start of the 2018-2019 school year. After receiving instruments from the 2017 drive, elementary school music teacher Erika Knaub, said, “putting an instrument in a child’s hands fosters a sense of responsibility that maybe they’ve never really understood before, and that level of responsibility transfers to the classroom. When somebody donates an instrument to a music program, they might literally be changing the course of a child’s life.

“Study after study shows the positive impact that learning music has on children,” said Bringing Music to Life executive director Steve Blatt. “Their listening skills improve, as well as creative thinking, self-discipline and self-esteem. Students learn the value of persevering and how to work with others toward a common goal. We’re excited about reaching even more children, schools, and communities this year.”

Those who don’t have an instrument can still help by contributing to the repair fund. Donations go to repairing and refurbishing the instruments, insuring that they’re in excellent condition when awarded to students. “Instrument repairs are the single greatest expense of the program, with the average repair costing us about $150,” explained Blatt. CIOMIT is once again doing all refurbishing and reconditioning at a 50% discount.”

Title One schools that have a majority of students receiving free or reduced cost lunches are encouraged to apply for instruments now through March 31 using the online application form. Bringing Music to Life will match qualifying schools with donated instruments.

Last year the nonprofit drive provided 630 instruments to 53 Colorado schools. Since the drives began, more than 3,800 instruments worth more than $1.75 million have been awarded to elementary, middle and high schools throughout the state.

For more information about Bringing Music to Life, visit http://www.bringmusic.org

Dates: March 5-17, 2018

Locations: 16 donation locations available throughout the state of Colorado. Visit this site for a complete list.

Instruments Needed: Band and orchestra instruments in good condition, including strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, guitars and electronic keyboards. They cannot accept upright and grand pianos or organs.

Applications for Instruments: Teachers and principals can apply online

Deadline is March 31, 2018

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