Instrument drive to benefit aspiring young musicians
03/06/2008
Dayton Public Schools, in partnership with the Dayton Philharmonic Volunteer Association, is accepting donations of gently used musical instruments for use in Dayton’s school programs. Organizers of the drive hope not only to help supplement the district’s music education programs, but also to introduce students to the discipline of learning to play an instrument, which carries over into other academic areas, resulting in higher student achievement.
"The instruments distributed by the Dayton Philharmonic Volunteers have been vital to helping us maintain our instrumental music programs here in the Dayton Public Schools. The donated instruments have been great quality used instruments that have replaced many of our worn out instruments. This program has allowed many students to learn an instrument that otherwise would not have had the opportunity," said Cleveland PK-8 instrumental music teacher Joy Jones, who teaches at Cleveland, Horace Mann and Wogaman.
Since the drive began four years ago, hundreds of instruments have found their way to Dayton schools, creating band programs where there were none and helping students to discover their musical talents.
“. . . The children of Dayton need to have their spirits nourished. It has been proven over and over and over and over again, that music is food for the soul. And, when you feed that soul, many of these kids return to the table of education, which they might otherwise bypass. And music teachers by and large are the finders of lost souls," said Emanuel Goss, instrumental music teacher at Dunbar High School.
Citizens will have the opportunity to bring their musical instruments to the Second Street Public Market at 600 E. Second St, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on either of the two designated Saturdays: June 14 and 21.
Musical instruments also will be accepted at the Dayton Public Schools Administration Building, 115 South Ludlow St., in care of DPS Associate Superintendent of Humanities Gail Mitchell.
The DPVA has long been an integral part of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra education programs and annually provides scholarships for talented area students.
Those who would like more information may call DPVA It’s Instrumental at 542-3524.
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