Colorado Public Radio: Donate an instrument and change a kid’s life in Colorado

Story By Karla Walker

“The thing I love about my beginners is they are so passionate.”

With 45 beginning players in a period, band Director Andrew Campo sees a lot of passion and energy!

Campo’s middle school band room in Cortez is overflowing with students learning music, thanks in large part to the Bringing Music to Life Instrument Drive.

In fact, Campo’s music program is a beacon for BMTL’s program to positively impact youth over the past dozen years. Campo has seen participation in band grow to nearly 50 percent of the school’s population. This last year alone saw 20 percent growth and he’s expecting even more next year.

Montezuma-Cortez Middle School sees about 240 students participate in the band out of its population of about 500. Campo says the band recently went to the town’s Veteran’s parade and practically shut the school down.

“Every other kid in school is in band. It’s crazy!”

Campo attributes that passion to the band room’s welcoming atmosphere and to the fact that the kids don’t have to purchase an instrument in order to participate. It’s an expense many in the school could not afford.

In fact, only about 10 of his 240 students own their instruments. The rest play instruments that have been donated, mostly through the Bringing Music to Life Instrument Drive.

“You just have to have the instruments,” says Campo.

Read the full story here.