Band Instrument Renewal Drive

Empowering Young Musicians, One Instrument at a Time

Across Rhode Island, hundreds of used band instruments sit in storage rooms, attics, closets, and basements. At the same time, hundreds of school children are denied the opportunity to play music in their school band because they can’t afford to buy or rent an instrument. The Rhode Island Wind Ensemble needs your help in bridging this gap!

RIWE is proud to announce the launch of a new initiative: the Band Instrument Renewal Drive (BIRD)! We have already distributed over a dozen instruments to urban school band programs in need, and we’re gathering more each week. But these instruments need some light work by repair technicians to be put in playing condition – the cost can be anywhere between $50-$200 per instrument.

Your tax-deductible gift will support the goal of this initiative: increasing the opportunity for more children to receive the benefits of instrumental music education. Each instrument will become the property of the recipient school’s band, for use by students for several years. Your gift will help bring the joy of music to so many!

If you would like to help bring the thrill of band music into the lives of students in the Ocean State, click a button below, or email us at riwe@riwe.org for more details.

THANK YOU!

the Instrument

The BIRD relies on donations of used instruments from individuals and schools. If you have one or more instruments to donate to our program, click the “Donate an Instrument” button and fill out the form.

Donate an Instrument

Give to the Repair Fund

The cost

Cleaning and repairing an instrument can cost between $50-$200. Our instruments are serviced by trained repair techs before going out to partner schools, and we rely on your tax-deductible contributions to the BIRD repair fund to pay the techs for their services.

Apply to Receive an Instrument

The Donation

Once repaired, the BIRD finds homes for instruments in urban school band programs throughout Rhode Island. The instrument becomes property of the school. If you’re a music educator at a school in Rhode Island and your program would like to be considered for an instrument from the BIRD, click the “Apply to Receive an Instrument” button and fill out the form.