Instrument drive planned for May 13 concert

I have had a wonderful year as the Boundary County School District Band Director this year.

There are 137 students involved in band in sixth through 12th grades.

There are also approximately 50 district-owned instruments rented to students, who may not be able to participate in band otherwise.

This is a wonderful opportunity, and one that I believe is rare. Most school districts own large, uncommon instruments like piccolos, tubas, bassoons and upright basses, but don’t usually have flutes, clarinets and trumpets available for student use.

While this is an exciting thing to have available, it has brought on some difficulties this year as far as keeping these instruments in playing condition. There is a percentage of these district-owned instruments that are extremely old and very used.

Everyone knows that you can’t learn how to drive a car with a flat tire, or one that won’t start. This is the case with instruments; it’s very frustrating for student and teacher alike when they’re doing everything correct, but no sound is coming out.

Over the last year, approximately $2,000 was spent on repairing the instruments that are currently in use by students, not to mention the other instruments that are awaiting some much-needed ‘TLC’ so they can be used.

Fortunately, there is a place that can help band directors like myself upgrade their current instruments. It’s called Taylor Music and they will take absolutely anything for exchange as credit toward new instruments.

Our final “pops” concert, which is 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, in the Becker Auditorium, will also be an “instrument drive” where anyone can bring any old instrument that they don’t need or want and donate to help the Bonners Ferry bands.

Rachel Gordon

Instrumental Music Director

Boundary County School District