This is a lil' off the subject of "guitar repair" but it's pretty important nonetheless. Now that school is back in session, I can't help but notice kids getting on and off their daily school bus and NOT carrying instrument cases. Y'know why? Well, it's because the schools don't have the proper funding for a decent musical curriculum. It's a sad fact of life that, when the school budgets get tight, one of the first things to get cut is music.

My only point here is that kids in school need a program for music. Not all kids are star athletes, or killer chess-players or what-have-you. Music education doesn't just make for skilled musicians; it teaches the values of getting-along together, appreciating an instrument... and the satisfaction of doing something well! I can't count the number of 80-yr-old musicians who still have a great time getting together and making music... can you say the same for athletes?! Music is a lifelong gift and the time to teach and nurture it is during the academic years.

So what can we do? Well, we can make sure music programs get their fair share of funding, along with sports (notice that the football program never seems to get cut?!) We can do some soul-searching when we vote to cut budgets. We can contact the schools and ask questions about how they handle their music programs. We can donate older or unused instruments to the school bands. We can do a lot of things... but doing nothing isn't one of them.

Before you ask, the answer is "no"! I have no children, nor do I have a financial interest in seeing scholastic music programs continue. I simply see the fact that to cut-out music in the schools is to deprive the students of a lifetime of fun!

good pickin'.... Mike Kolb

Yeah, Mike. I know what you mean. When I was in grade school I tried to learn the clarinet but couldn't afford the instrument rent for very long. Later I played the tuba because they didn't charge rent for it! But you know, it WAS fun! I got to hang out with the school band, learned a little about reading music,
and came to appreciate it. I think I felt the same way you did when your folks asked you what instrument you wanted to play and you said, "what is there?". It just goes to show you that kids will play just about any instrument and enjoy it, so if one was inclined to donate an instrument, even an old one, it would be well appreciated by someone. I've seen lots of old trumpets, saxes, and violins at yard sales for only a few pesos. Later, Dannysoul.