DENVER — A partnership between the Bringing Music To Life (BMTL) instrument drive and local music shops is putting instruments in the hands of students who otherwise might not be able to afford them. The non-profit group collects gently used band and orchestra instruments and has them cleaned, repaired, and distributed to struggling schools across the state.
“All the schools anywhere across the country are severely lacking in the number of instruments and especially the number of instruments in good working order,” said Brian Stevenson, owner of Rocky Mountain Music Repair. “We kind of try to fill that gap between what the schools can provide and what is actually needed at the schools.”
Stevenson’s shop located in Broomfield has been lending a helping hand to the BMTL drive by picking up donations from various locations throughout the state. The shop cleans and repairs the instruments before they distribute them to Colorado schools in need.
“People are bringing instruments out of their closets, or ones that aren’t being used or instruments they want to see get to schools and donating them,” Stevenson said. “It means so much to the teachers and the kids to know that the community and the people around them support what they’re doing.”
9NEWS partners with Bringing Music to Life, which asks people to donate their used instruments to benefit students in struggling music programs across Colorado. Last year, the drive collected about 1,100 instruments. Since it started, BMTL estimates about 20,000 students from more than 300 music programs have benefited.
“There are 15 locations all located all up and down the front range from as far south as Pueblo all the way up to Ft. Collins and even a location in Grand Junction to drop off instruments,” Stevenson said. “Go check out your closet and see if you have an old flute, clarinet, trumpet. We take any band or orchestra instruments and guitars and basses as well.”
The instrument drive has also been getting help from music stores like the Flesher-Hinton Music Company in Wheat Ridge. The store has been in business for 73 years and music education has been part of their store since the beginning.
“It’s part of who we all are because music was central and our upbringing and our experience as a student,” said Max Wagner, saxophonist, and spokesperson for Flesher-Hinton. “At a time when there are funding cuts and there are shortfalls in financial means for instrumental music education, this amazing organization has come forward and really picked up the baton and run with it.”
The instruments collected from the drive will be distributed to schools in August with the hope that the donations will be music to the ears of students across the state. The group is also collecting cash donations on their website that offset the cost of repairs and distribution. Stevenson believes this is a way for more students to be part of a bigger community.
“Band is a family, these people who played in band back then, remember their memories in band and they want other kids to have that experience,” Stevenson said. “The fact that we’re kind of passing down that shared experience of the band family, is huge and I think it’s great.”
To donate a used instrument or funds that Bringing Music to Life uses to repair and refurbish the instruments, visit their website.
> Watch 9NEWS original shows, live Colorado news and weather updates, daily forecasts, and sports coverage for free on the 9NEWS+ app on Roku and Fire TV.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS
9NEWS+ has multiple live daily shows including 9NEWS Mornings, Next with Kyle Clark and 9NEWS+ Daily, an original streaming program. 9NEWS+ is where you can watch live breaking news, weather updates, and press conferences. You can also replay recent newscasts and find videos on demand of our top stories, local politics, investigations and Colorado specific features.
To download 9NEWS+ on Roku search for KUSA.
To download 9NEWS+ on Fire TV search for 9NEWS.