Tight finances could dim the music

Published 10:35 pm Sunday, September 7, 2008

With two teenagers in a marching band, Cliff Carter knows how hard it can be to afford instruments.

His son, Matthew, a senior at Southeast High School, plays the baritone, and his daughter, Jaimie, a freshman, plays the clarinet.

“The one my son plays was close to twice as expensive,” Carter said. “We were able to purchase my daughter’s. My son is fortunate enough to use (a baritone) at the school.”

Already facing higher prices for day to day expenses, some families are finding it more difficult to afford band instruments, which can range in price from $600 to $5,000.

Lean economic times have many band leaders asking the public to donate instruments.

“I had 80 people wanting to be in the band, but I lost 12 because they can’t afford the instruments,” said Ronnie Gaddis, the band director at New Hope Middle School. “I had one child rent a horn on a Thursday, but they sent it back on Monday saying they can’t afford it. We don’t want kids to lose the opportunity to be in the band.”

Gaddis encourages his students’ parents to rent instruments from music businesses for beginning band classes to make sure they are going to stay in the band and continue playing the same instrument. Rental fees range from $30 to $50 a month and typically go toward the purchase of the instrument, Gaddis said.

Any instruments donated would be provided to the students whose parents cannot afford them, he said.

In middle school, most students play a beginner instrument, such as a flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet or trombone.

In high school the need shifts to more advanced instruments, such as tubas and French horns.

By the time most students reach high school, they own their instrument, said Warren Mahan, director at Southeast High School. High schools provide students with percussion instruments and several of the larger, more expensive instruments, such as tubas, which can cost $5,000, he said.

“The economy is really going to greatly impact the middle school programs,” Mahan said. “When you are starting in band is when you need the instruments.”

He said he believes participation in the band is down a little this year because the numbers in the middle school bands have dropped.

The past few years there were approximately 120 students in Southeast’s marching band, but this year there are 104, Mahan said.

Mike Weaver, Murray County High School band director, said participation in the band “doesn’t seem to have been affected” this year.

“If conditions don’t improve, I certainly anticipate where that could be the case, where families decide ‘We really can’t afford this,’” Weaver said.

Mahan and Gaddis said the instruments don’t have to be in perfect condition before donating to a school. Donations are tax-deductible and are accepted at schools where there is a band program.

“If anybody has instruments in the close, donate them,” Carter said. “It’s very rewarding to see (the students) bring it home and practice.”



Staff writer Charles Oliver contributed to this story.