Klarinet Archive - Posting 000395.txt from 2003/11

From: "James Hobby" <jhobby@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] School instruments
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2003 19:45:09 -0500

I hope the cynical attitude in the first message isn't shared with many
schools. Schools (or individuals, for that matter) don't have to have
"perfect" instruments. They just have to be maintained in proper playing
condition.

In the case of our schools, the band booster has a line in the budget to
repair and replace -- and of course, buy new -- instruments. Of course, the
school board can't be depended on for anything, other than paying the
directors' salaries. We have an arrangement with one of the music stores to
come to the school once, every two weeks, with a repair van to do small
repairs. They pick up horns that need more than a tweak, take them in and
service them, and return them in two weeks, unless they're needed more
quickly, in which case they make a swing on the off weeks (when they go to
other schools) to get them back earlier.

They take care of both school and student instruments. It's all billed to
the band. Student-owned instruments are picked up from the director and
paid at the same time with a check made to the band boosters, who pays the
music store's repair bill, once a month. (I suspect there's some technical
problems with that billing procedure, but it keeps it simple.)

It isn't always easy, but it can be done. Jim Hobby

>Subject: Re: [kl] School instruments
>[snip]
> The thing is, schools don't want perfect instruments. Most of the students
> aren't playing good enough to appreciate a quality instrument
>[snip]
>If they are not going to maintain the instruments then it is a serious
waste
>of everyone's time and money to even bother having a band program.
{snip]

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