Hillyard Kiwanis seeks musical instrument donations

Spokane Public Schools has a long tradition of lending musical instruments to students who probably could not afford their own.

Now that the district has launched a pilot program in nine elementary schools to require all fifth-graders to take band or strings, there were 300 new young musicians this year alone.

“It’s been cool to see 300 more kids on instruments,” said Dave Weatherred, director of fine arts for the district.

The district wants to make sure that music can be introduced to all students, not just the ones who can afford their own instruments.

Students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches can use school instruments for free. Some students are asked to pay a $20 fee to take their instruments home to practice; and those students who can afford their own instruments are asked to get their own.

With so many students in need of an instrument, the Hillyard Kiwanis, Spokane Symphony and Spokane Public Schools have joined forces for the 2008 Donated Instruments Program on Sunday at the symphony’s concert at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox at 3 p.m.

Anyone with an instrument that isn’t being used, is invited to take it to the concert for appraisal and to donate it to the district. In return, donors can get a receipt to claim on their tax returns and a voucher for any Sunday concert the Symphony will have at the Fox this season.

There are some instruments the district can’t use, such as pianos or accordions. The biggest need is for flutes, clarinets, trombones, trumpets, drums, violins and cellos or basses.

Jim Fox of the Hillyard Kiwanis said that he inherited his father’s violin, and his children were able to use the instrument when they were in school.

“There’s a reason to keep those things,” he said. But for those who feel like they will never haul that old clarinet or trumpet out of storage to actually be played, students today can benefit from the donation.

“I would call this an annual thing,” Weatherred said. “But we’ll accept donations at any time.”

The event at the Fox gives music lovers the opportunity to enjoy a concert while donating an instrument. While the event has benefited Spokane Public Schools for a number of years, Weatherred and Randy Fisher, the education director of the Spokane Symphony, said it is hoped that surrounding school districts may one day reap the benefits, too.

Weatherred said sometimes instruments that have been donated are not in perfect condition, but the district can send them to Hoffman’s Music for repairs.

The concert Sunday will also honor music teachers and administrators for their hard work in teaching or accommodating local music programs. There will be awards given for lifetime achievement and for an administrator who advocates the arts programs at his or her schools.

The concert Sunday will feature Christina Jennings, a flute soloist and Morihiko Nakahara, associate conductor of the symphony, will also lead the musicians in Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7.