Every day families around Iola have to make careful choices on what they spend their money on. As each summer turns to fall, in many cases, money is what stands between a child and music.
“Instruments aren’t cheap,” Matt Kleopfer, new band director for USD 257, said. “There are plenty of kids around here who could enjoy music and even become professional musicians if they were given the chance.”
Enter the efforts of Save the Music, a campaign that refurbishes old instruments for students from low-income families.
Susan Raines, executive director of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, learned of the idea at an arts conference.
“I came back here and when I met with Matt, I suggested the idea of doing something like this,” Raines said. “He thought it was a great idea right away.”
Kleopfer took the idea a step further. By adding elements of sponsorship and mentorship, he really wanted to get the community invested in the program.
“Some people may not own an instrument but they still want to help,” Kloepfer said. “I wanted to give those people a way to help by either adopting a musician or becoming a musical mentor.”
Adopting a musician would entail making a donation to a fund that would help pay for private lessons for students. According to Kloepfer, many children fall out of wanting to play instruments because they don’t get the proper support and encouragement. This fund would help to bridge the “enthusiasm gap,” Kloepfer said.
For those who are musically gifted becoming a musical mentor is another avenue that Kloepfer thinks has potential. This particular facet of the program would do things two-fold. It would allow students to spend time with a volunteer who could show them some things that they wouldn’t be able to get to learn otherwise. The mentors also would get a chance to be a positive role model in children’s lives.
“Putting experienced musicians in a position to help these kids will get the community even more invested in helping out the district youth,” Kloepfer said. “People don’t realize how much good even an hour a week can do for some of these kids. Who knows, they might choose to pursue music as a life path because of it.”
The fundraising and equipment collection program is just getting off the ground. To date the Bowlus has collected one instrument so far, a trombone.
“It’s early but we are looking forward to getting the word out,” said Raines. “I hope the community will respond and support it just like they do with a lot of our other programs.”
