Donate an instrument and change a life

Music Teacher Melanie Hawthorne Long has a new sound in her bandroom this year. A tuba! Long won a drawing for a tuba at last year's Bringing Music to Life Instrument Giveaway, and now she has three students playing what's often described as the "sub-woofer" of the brass section, with more students on the waiting list.

"It’s wonderful to be put at ease knowing that I don’t have to have as much pressure moving forward in my program, having to say 'no' to as many students who are interested in trying tuba," says Long. "I can always let up to three students try it, which opens up more opportunities, and also makes our band that much better. I’m so thankful for Bringing Music to Life.

"Long's students at Horizon Middle School in Colorado Springs, a Title I School, play a tuba that was donated last year to the Bringing Music to Life Instrument Drive. In fact, three tubas were donated last year.

Executive Director Steve Holley says repairing an existing tuba is a fraction of the cost of a new tuba. A new student tuba costs $5,000, while repairing a donated one is typically $650. Similarly, a flute costs $300 to repair compared to $1200 for a new one.

Click here to read the original article at CPR.org