INDExtra

One man's thrash is a needy child's treasure

by Heather Miller

The Performing Arts Society of Acadiana is seeking musical instruments of all kinds to continue a program that has provided 140 instruments to students in 12 Acadiana schools since it began in 2004.

Musical instruments of all varieties are needed to help the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana carry out Play it Again, a program that has provided 140 instruments to students in 12 Acadiana schools since its inception in 2004.

According to The Advocate, the local nonprofit is asking residents to drop off instruments at any of the following locations: C&M Music Center, Lafayette Music Company, Prof Erny's Music and Cox Communications. Donated instruments will also be accepted Thursday night at The Heymann Performing Arts Center during A Far Cry's string ensemble performance.

The program, as reported by The Advocate, gives students a refurbished instrument and simultaneously offers them a lesson in responsibility. Students are required to maintain the instruments, which are kept within school music programs and inherited by incoming students:

"This is an accountability program," Collins said. "The student has a contract and is responsible for it. They are the ones who take care of it."

As part of that contract, students also make commitments related to grades and behavior in sit-down meetings with their band or music teachers and a school administrator, Collins said.

Read the full story at www.theadvocate.com/news/acadiana/2249642-123/musical-instruments-sought-.html.