Forgotten instruments find purpose in school bands

During her visit to the Leavelle McCampbell Middle School band room Tuesday, Felicia Faulkner couldn't stop smiling.

She recalled two happy years as a flautist in that same room before going on to play with the Midland Valley High School program. Although her band days are long behind her, her flute is getting a second chapter at Leavelle McCampbell.

Faulkner found her mostly unused flute in a closet a few months ago and donated it to "Instruments in the Attic" - a project of the Aiken Performing Arts Group (APAG). To her delight, the project coordinators contributed the flute to the music program at her old school.

"This brings back so many memories from this room," Faulkner said at a reception at the school Tuesday. "Those were really good times. An important part of being in school is having the extra-curricular activities. It's a great opportunity to donate my flute and pass it on to someone else here. This really warms my heart."

In collaboration with the Aiken County School District, APAG's coordinator, Cathy Traver, project Chairman Michael Hertzberg and other board members spearheaded a community drive to collect more than 100 used instruments to donate to County band programs and USC Aiken. Leavelle McCampbell received two flutes and three guitars, but the publicity about the project led to an unexpected and welcome chain reaction.

"So many people called us up," said Band Director Kimberly Woods. "One man was cleaning up his attic, found a baritone and brought it to us. We got clarinets and trumpets, all kinds of instruments. They are going to children out of need, and they deserve opportunities that every school gets. Thanks to the performing arts group for making that possible."

One of the donated flutes went to sixth-grader Brittany Starnes. She joined the beginning band because "it seemed like it would be easy," she said. Brittany truly has made progress; she will join the older musicians from her school in a concert with the Midland Valley Pride of the Mustangs band next Tuesday.

Superintendent Dr. Beth Everitt also thanked APAG and congratulated the Leavelle students, who performed two songs during the reception.

"This is a wonderful initiative," Everitt said. "People did check their attics and found guitars, pianos and oboes, all kinds of things. I hope this becomes an annual event."

APAG Board Chairman Thomas Hofstetter acknowledged he took piano lessons as a child and hated them. He never learned to read music and has regretted that ever since. Instead, he became an advocate.

While reading, writing and arithmetic are important, said Hofstetter, "there is a lot more to life. An appreciation of music and reading a good book - that's what will stick with you."

Paul Simons Jr., also an APAG board member, coordinated instrument repairs and refurbishment.

The organization to date has donated 65 instruments and is raising funds to make repairs to the remaining instruments. For more information, call APAG at 643-4774.

Eighth-grader Alanna Berry is borrowing a trumpet this year - one of the instruments donated directly to Leavelle McCampbell.

"It's nice to know that people actually care about people who don't have money for instruments," Alanna said.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.