Saxophone Forum |
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Public School Music Programs. Who Really Cares !!Now that I got your attention, I CARE!! As part of my current job I am networking wherever possible. This has put me in contact with my local public school music department. I have been recruited to assist with the jazz program. In passing I mentioned, I refurbish vintage saxophones as a hobby. This turned into, YOU CAN DO SAXOPHONE REPAIR? Within a day, the music director is dropping off two alto saxophone carcasses at my bank office that do not play. I was instructed to take my time. The school does not need them till the fall. Many parents simply cannot get approved for the credit program the local music stores offer for students to rent. These horns are what the school has to work with for those under priveledged students who cannot afford 40 bucks or more a month to rent a cheap asian horn that will bend if you squeeze it too hard. So I am looking at a very old Bundy in its old wood frame glitter case and a Bundy II in a newer used case. The cost of repair from any shop charging would be more than their value. The response from the best known repair outlet in Cincinnati has been to put new pads and cork onto these horns, but not do the real necessary repairs. So I have two altos with new pads that simply do not play. How selfish can a repair shop be, in that they do work on an instrument, charge the school system, and return an instrument into the eager hands of a young student, just to become disgruntled at their feeble attempts to make the instrument play. How many disgruntled future players have just given up, while the music store keeps putting pads onto the same out of line instruments year after year. School after school. Nice reputation they are building, but nobody seems to care.
So What I am doing is what I hope many of you repair guys would be willing to do. I am doing a complete refurbishing of these horns for the school at no charge. They may not be the prettiest horn in the school, but they will be the best player. These vintage American made horns still have music to perform. Then when it comes time for this student to step out and get his own Axe, they will call me. Does anybody else CARE???
Does anybody else do this type of charity to your local schools? Unfortunately, the music program here in Cincinnati that asks for donated instruments in order to refurbish them for needy students on the classical radio station here in town is the same group that robs the school districts with their school owned instrument repairs. I truly think it is so they can skim off the vintage pro horns for themselves and feed the student horns back into the system. To all those familiar with the Queen City. I must say, Mr "Rogers" is not my "Buddy". |
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