April has been a busy month as we placed 49 instruments into music programs across Arizona!
One of our favorite aspects of instruments getting pledged and placed is seeing community come together over music education. At EarCandyChairty.org, instrument donors and music teachers have the ability to communicate right on the site. This comment was posted by Mr. Mabry, band director at Pueblo del Sol School, to a generous donor who pledged a flute:
We couldn't be more proud of our Rock the Run team that trained hard for the P.F. Chang's mini, half, and full marathon. Leading up to the big day, they spent many early mornings and late evenings logging hundreds of miles and raised thousands of dollars in support of music education for Ear Candy Charity.
A big THANK YOU goes out to our many local supporters including Racelab for their support with training and clinics, Rigatony's for sponsoring our pre-race team dinner, Ideas Collide for our Rock the Run logo that our team proudly wore on race day, and the East Valley Spine Center for hanging out in our team tent providing post-race massages for the runners.
We're so very thankful to everyone who supported our team. To the friends, family, and colleagues of each our team members we thank you for supporting their journey to the finish line! It was the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon so with music at every mile, we're sure everyone was inspired as they ran for music education! Congratulations to our team's top two fundraisers, Rebekah Zeeuw and Tony Darling, who combined raised close to $5,000.
Thank you and congrats again to each of our Rock the Run team runners: you're all ROCK STARS! We hope that you are getting some much deserved rest and relaxation this week and we hope to see you again at the start line in 2014!
If you're interested in being a part of Ear Candy's Rock the Run team or for more information contact info@earcandycharity.org.
As the band director, Mr. Klaessy has seen his music program grow from 70 students to 280 over the last four years. Although interest in band and music is on the rise at Andalucia Middle school, adequate resources for supplies and instruments haven't exactly been on par. His band is in need of brass and woodwinds and he has made requests for a Tuba, French Horn, Flute and Bass.
Mr. Klaessey's is only one of the many requests that have come in to Ear Candy's Online Instrument Drive system. At Trailside Point School in Laveen, Arizona Mr. Brownfield is waiting for a flute, clarinet, and two trumpets. Like so many other schools, the kids are eager to participate in their music program but neither schools nor parents can afford to rent or buy instruments. With six students on the waiting list for to borrow a school owned instrument, Mr. Brownfield and the Trailside Point Panther band needs your help!
But HOW can you help, you ask?
You've heard the phrase, "it takes a village", and at Ear Candy we rely on the support of the community to fulfill our mission and it's easy to be part of the process to place instruments into the hands of students. If you have an instrument collecting dust in the closet, you could search the requests and decide at what school you would like your instrument placed.
And we know what you're thinking, "I LOVE MY INSTRUMENT!"
Of course you love it and we know how hard it can be to part with an instrument that has been an important part of your life. But knowing the impact it makes when it gets new life is an equally great feeling. Your instrument is going to be put into the hands of a student who is just as passionate about music and your instrument will get to continue to give the gift of music, year after year.
Check out a story that was covered by AZ 3TV News, where Erica donated her violin to Coronado High School student, Desiree:
But if you don't have an instrument living with dust bunnies in your home, fear not. You can STILL help. Once we find instruments to be placed, we need the help of individuals like you, to pledge funds to get the instruments repaired and shipped.
You can learn more and view all of our active teacher requests in the Online Instrument Drive System, here.
