Sunrise Rotary Club begins “Music for Kids” Campaign

Patti R. Albaugh

The members of the SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary Club know that owning a musical instrument is out of reach for many students in the Oracle School District. So that every student from grade five to eight has an opportunity to be in the school’s future band, SaddleBrooke Sunrise has put together a campaign called Music for Kids. The club’s first collection of instruments took place in May. Drum sets, violins and guitars were examples of donations gathered by SaddleBrooke Sunrise.

“The premise is simple,” said Theresa Poalucci, who developed the idea with other club members. “We are looking to collect used instruments from those in the community who no longer use them.” The instruments will be donated to the school and loaned to students who are accepted into the program. Donations are tax deductible through the SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary Foundation. The Rotarians will also accept cash donations for instrument repair, music stands and sheet music. “We will also need to purchase mouth pieces for the students to use on the various wind instruments,” continued Poalucci.

“The benefits of musical education are boundless,” said Earline Lewis, a member of the Oracle Piano Society. She shared an anonymous poem on why we teach music:

Not because we expect you to major in music

Not because we expect you to play or sing all your life

Not so you can relax

Not so you can have fun

But—

So you will be more human

So you will recognize beauty

So you will be more sensitive

So you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world

So you will have something to cling to

So you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good

In short, more life

If you have an instrument at home collecting dust, bring it back to life in the hands of a young musician. Call Laurie Foster at 520-268-1057 and she will make arrangements for a Rotarian to pick up your donation. You can also learn more by visiting www.rotarymusicforkids.com.