Organization collecting used instruments for school music programs

DENVER -- This week, the Bringing Music to Life program is collecting used instruments for its school programs.

“The kids here want to play music and they want to play it really badly,” said Columbia Middle School Music Teacher Nina Scheideman.

Music impacts her students beyond the classroom.  

“It feels like a family and like a second home, and it's like a great passion to have everyone playing with you,” student Nevaeh Jones said.

Student Trevor Johns agrees.

“It's calming to me. It helps me. Drums specifically help me get my anger and frustration out when I need it,” Johns said.

Because of reasons like that, Scheideman never turns a student away, but a new instrument can be hundreds of dollars.

Not long ago, students in her class had to share instruments because of costs preventing them from taking their music as far as they would like.

But then Bringing Music to Life stepped in.

“It means the world to us. There are more than 100 kids who would not have been able to play in program if it weren't for Bringing Music to Life,” Sheideman said.

More than 140 Colorado classrooms have benefited from Bringing Music to Life. Since 2009 it's collected and repaired more than 3,000 instruments.

"That instrument goes to the school, and stays in the school. So when a kid graduates or moves on to the next level the instrument stays behind. And goes to the next student. So we think we've impacted 8 to 10,000 students already," Bringing Music to Life Executive Director Steve Blatt said.

Bringing Music to Life hopes something collecting dust in your basement or garage could be a life saver for a Colorado student.

“For a lot of these kids this is their lifeline. This is the thing that makes them feel good about themselves,” Blatt said.

To learn more about how you can donate an instrument or money to repair one, visit Bringing Music to Life’s website at http://www.bringingmusictolife.org/donation-locations/#sthash.SWTPRBil.dpbs.

There are 16 drop-off locations, and the drive runs through March 25.