![]() ![]() "Our goal is eventually to be able to hand an instrument to every kid who walks into the band room wanting to learn to play an instrument," she added. "If we can't give them an instrument, they leave and don't come back. "Even if it's not a child's first choice, if we can at least put an instrument in their hands, they can start to learn," she said. The instruments then are available for generations of children to use and enjoy.įinding the larger instruments, such as the trombone, tuba, bassoon and French horn, is more difficult, and so the need for them is greater, but Weyek, a member of the Ventura Concert Community Band and the Camarillo Community Band, said the group will be grateful for any instrument donated. Gatchel said Save Our Kids' Music refurbishes and maintains instruments donated to it. "To be able to share that passion for music with other people and an audience is very fulfilling." It's a phenomenal feeling to play in a group and have it come together," she said. "Music is one on the few things that uses both sides of the brain, the creative and the logical. "My mother played violin, and my father could play the piano by ear," said Gatchel, who teaches clarinet, saxophone and piano. Gatchel, who studied music at UCLA, said she began to play when she was 8. The organization is holding three used-instrument drives this month to try to add to the roughly 100 instruments it has available to lend to students at schools in the district.Īn instrument can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars, and the expense is the biggest barrier to a child's ability to learn instrumental music, said Karen Gatchel, chairwoman of the group's board. "Music feeds the soul, and if you don't have soul, what's left?" ![]() "We educate the child with academics, but part of enjoying life and knowing about life is the arts," Weyek said. The academy offers visual and performing arts classes after school, including beginning band, beginning strings, jazz band and orchestra. In 2010, Save Our Kids Music started the Youth Arts Academy to expand music education for students in grades four to eight throughout Ventura County. Weyek, a music support specialist for the Pleasant Valley School District, said the group started in 1991 in response to a decision by the school district to cut funding for music programs.Ī group of parents, teachers and other members of the community banded together to raise money to give to the district to make sure Camarillo schoolchildren continued to learn about music. "We know people have them lying around in their homes or garages, and we want to get them and put them into the hands of a child," said Betty Weyek, cofounder of Save Our Kids' Music. It’s a beautiful thing.A nonprofit that helps Camarillo schools keep music in the classroom is appealing for donations of used musical instruments. “I’ll tell you, playing in front of thousands of people is really a thrill but seeing a kid happy, studying music, tops it a million times. “It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life, hands down,” Wild said. Now his young beneficiaries are putting on a show for him. Wild has always been a singer and front man, putting on a good show for the crowd. People don’t realize how important these programs are to children.” “It’s amazing, it’s amazing,” Dean said when she saw the stack of equipment in the dealership. The equipment will be the foundation for a music program starting for their kids club.Ĭheryl Dean said the items will help some kids in her class build confidence. News 6 was there as counselors from the Edgewater YMCA accepted a new Keyboard, PA system and used Yamaha speakers. ![]() “Knowing that they have the opportunity to peruse music, it’s really neat.” “It’s really cool to see the smile on kids faces when they walk out of here,” Adams said. ![]()
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