The THS Music Department is asking for $21,499.53 to help augment and replenish our existing band instrument inventory. Many of our instruments are very old, and require annual repairs. Like an old car, eventually it does not make sense to keep paying for repairs. At some point older instruments must be retired, and then replaced. Additionally, the number of music students at THS projects to grow by quite a bit in the next few years. We currently have 63 students in the program at THS, but ACMS currently has over 90 students in the program, most of which will join the music program at THS. At this rate, within a few years we will simply not have enough instruments to put into the hands of our students. This grant will provide us with 4 flutes, 4 clarinets, 4 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, 1 baritone saxophone, 2 French horns, and 2 sets of timpani mallets.
This grant will provide the THS music program with durable, high quality instruments that will get into the hands of up to 19 students each school year. These instruments will be used by a variety of students grade 9-12 for the next 20 years and beyond. Additionally, these instruments will go to students who would not otherwise be able to buy their own instruments.
Success for this grant will come in the form of more students having access to functional and well maintained instruments. It will help our music program grow in numbers, and will contribute to our ever expanding presence in the community. As we project the number of students in the music program to grow quite a bit in the next 3-5 years, we will need the instruments to keep up with our growth. This grant will help bridge the gap between our current instrument inventory, and our projected numbers of students in the years to come.
Once we receive the grant, we will place the order for the instruments. Once they arrive, they will be catalogued into our inventory, then checked out to students at the beginning of each school year. We check them in at the end of each year, so they may be checked out to new students the following year. Repeat for the next 20-30 years.
We are happy to share our music with all members of our school and community. Check the Truckee High School Bands Facebook page and Instagram accounts for a calendar of upcoming events to see the grant in action! In general, the instruments themselves, will be used only by the THS Music Department. In special circumstances, we may temporarily loan instruments out to the other music programs in our district including ACMS, NTS, and NTHS if a situation warranted it.
We already utilize our existing Measure AA budget, and fundraised money from our parent booster club TEMPO to help support our music instrument inventory. We have also reached out to many community civic organizations (Rotary, Lions, Soroptimist, and Optimist among others) this year to help us reach our goal of raising $10,000 to get more marching band uniforms for our growing band. We are very close to meeting this goal to be sure we have uniforms for our growing band. Now, we are asking for you help to get the instruments for them. Thank you!
Thank you so much for supporting music in our district, and especially music here at THS. Our program has thrived in the past, and despite the recent Covid bump in the road, we will thrive once again the near future. With unparalleled collaboration between the THS and ACMS music programs we project tremendous growth in both of our programs moving forward into the future.
Lastly, in summary, we are asking for a total of $21,499.53 to purchase 17 new instruments and 2 sets of timpani mallets. Our current inventory, for the most part is 20+ years old, and many instruments are repaired on a frequent basis. This grant will help us not only provide instruments to our growing numbers of students, but will also help us replace older instruments that are reaching the point where paying for repairs is no longer a viable option.