Do you have a dusty trumpet or aging trombone? If so a Vernon school wants to hear from you

VERNON – If you have a flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, saxophone or bass guitar collecting dust, the Vernon School Board would like to hear from you.

Alexis Park Elementary is hoping to launch a school band for Grade 6 and Grade 7 students and is appealing to the public for donations of instruments.

"I just know there are instruments collecting dust in people’s basements or closets. We will happily take them," Alexis Park Elementary music teacher Tobi Huggins said in a media release.

The school is specifically looking for flutes, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, alto or tenor saxophones, bass guitars and amplifiers.

A music teacher for 15-years Huggins said music has a big impact on students and incorporates math, social studies and science, as students rehearse, learn musical patterns, are creative, and work as a team.

"When students come together, with different instruments, to make one unified sound, the result is magical. It is a beautiful exercise and I want to create a spark in their soul that I hope will remain lit for the rest of their lives," she said.

"I am a strong believer that practise makes better," Huggins said. "And with a little practice, I’d love for the students at Alexis Park to have the opportunity to learn a new instrument, play in a band and perform for their school."

While Huggins is able to repair most instruments she has requested bass guitars and amplifiers should be in working condition.

For more information, or if you have an instrument to donate, call the school directly at 250-545-7289 and ask to speak to Huggins or the principal.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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Ben Bulmer

Ben Bulmer

After a decade of globetrotting, U.K. native Ben Bulmer ended up settling in Canada in 2009. Calling Vancouver home he headed back to school and studied journalism at Langara College. From there he headed to Ottawa before winding up in a small anglophone village in Quebec, where he worked for three years at a feisty English language newspaper. Ben is always on the hunt for a good story, an interesting tale and to dig up what really matters to the community.