This week: an important practical matter for band directors and arts administrators. A lack of instrument inventory to insure every child has access to instrumental music is not a new problem. With limited budgets, sharing instruments has long been a needed practice for many instrumental programs, especially larger instruments like tubas and baritone saxophones. With COVID-19 instrument sharing is no longer a safe practice without considerable protocols. This podcast will address the challenges of Instrument sharing and possible short-term and longer-term solutions. To discuss this topic we are joined by two excellent music educators, Michelle Hoff and Peter Guenther.
Michelle Hoff has been teaching in ISD 196 for the past twenty-three years. She has taught a variety of levels and is currently teaching grade 5 band at Rosemount Elementary and Parkview Elementary. She has also been running the Band for All instrument donation program for seven years that supports students in financial need by providing a band instrument. Band for All is currently supporting 800+ students in all 29 schools in ISD 196. In thirteen years, over 1,900 students have participated in band because of Band for All.
Peter Guenther is Director of Bands at Owatonna High School. Previous to this position he was the director of junior and senior high bands at Lake City High School from 1993 to 2001. At Owatonna High School, Mr. Guenther conducts three concert bands, the marching band, and jazz ensemble. He holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Winona State University. In 2010, he was honored by his colleagues as Owatonna Teacher of the Year.
Show timings:
(00:00)  Introduction
(04:32)  Description of “Band for All” program
(08:14)  Size and scope of program serving the district
(10:32)  Infrastructure: Costs, Financials, Ownership, Repair, Storage etc.
(13:19)  Peter’s approach to instrument and equipment management and administration
(16:23)  Funding sources from school and community
(23:24)  Music merchants and the business side
(26:29)  Follow-up questions for Michelle
(31:11)  Instrument repairs persons role in inventory management
(33:03)  Final thoughts
And that wraps up this episode.
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Other Resources
Show Hosts
Jerry Luckhardt   https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/luckh001
Bradley Mariska  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-mariska-63ba2855
Facebook Website (Band in Minnesota) https://www.facebook.com/Band-in-Minnesota
Band for All
https://bit.ly/37F4Vxf
Namm: Instrument Disinfection and Sanitization
https://www.namm.org/covid-19/articles/covid-19-and-instrument-cleaning%20