News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7FM Alpena and WCML-TV Channel 6 Alpena are off the air. Click here to learn more.

Group seeks used musical instruments for students in need

Flickr user Prophet And Poet
/
https://flic.kr/p/3V5K1

Marching band season will soon be wrapping up and bands are starting to look toward concert season. Some students are struggling to get their hands on an instrument. Now, a Midland area organization is collecting used instruments to give to students and schools who can't afford to buy their own.   

The Instrument Recovery program allows families with unused instruments to recycle them, and provide music education opportunities to other students.  

Mary Adams is the President of the Midland Alumnae Chapter of the music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota.

“We take in gently used musical instruments, music stands, and music and we find new homes for them. We have a few funds to make some minor repairs and buy accessories for instruments. But we welcome guitars, drums, saxophones, violins, and anything that someone might have”.

Adams said many schools have been forced to make budget cuts, and Music departments often take a hit. She said that can make it difficult for schools to provide instruments to students.

“Schools that are struggling maybe with their music budgets, or maybe they are no longer able to provide instruments for their students and maybe a student can’t afford to rent one or purchase one”.

Adams said the group focuses on helping students in the Saginaw Bay region but has also sent instruments as far as Haiti and Ecuador.

To donate an instrument contact a SAI Member.

Mary Adams:

(989) 430-9049