Our Story is Your Story

Stories come to life with Online Instrument Drives

We've had thousands of instruments donated to Ear Candy and placed in school music programs over the last few years. We love bringing joy to students who are eager to make music, but what one of the coolest things is letting  them know that they're part of something really special.  Every instrument has a story and when an instrument moves through our Online Instrument Drive system, we give instrument donors the opportunity to share their experience with music and tell us exactly what their instrument meant to them. Not only are they passing on their instrument, but the history that comes with it.

Andrea, our dedicated Programs Coordinator, came across one particular donor story that she wanted to share with the rest of the Ear Candy team. It is from a lovely individual who donated their Alto Saxophone to Mrs. Ramsey's school band program at ASU Prep Academy:

"My parents purchased this saxophone for me to play in 6th grade in Pendleton Oregon, a small NE town in Oregon where the Pendleton Woolen Mills started.  I played this sax through junior high school and high school.  It has been in a lot of parades and concerts, so it is use to people looking at it.  It has been in storage since the 60s. I decided to give it to a great young musician who will make beautiful music with it ... but to do that the young musician must practice a lot so the sax feels like a part of their body.  Don’t worry about it squeaking or not making a great sound at first … you will get the hang of it after a while and then you can astonish your parents and band members."

We've got so many great stories like this one and we're excited to see all of them come to life as instruments are donated and ready to be placed into the hands of a student. You can browse other requests and read more stories on the Ear Candy Instrument Request page. Then keep the beat going and be part of the conversation, let us know how music has impacted your life.