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Program makes a sound investment

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: May 20, 2009

BRANDON - Somewhere out there is a youngster who possesses the talent and ambition to become the next Itzhak Perlman, a virtuoso on the violin.

But this youngster is from a low-income home and doesn't have access to a violin or music lessons. He doesn't even realize he has a gift for music, because he's never had the opportunity to play a musical instrument.

"As a result, the world will miss out," said Glen Schubert. "Imagine how much poorer the world would be if Mozart or Beethoven's families couldn't afford a piano, or if Eric Clapton didn't have access to a guitar. The cost of an instrument and lessons shouldn't be a barrier to children."

That's why Schubert and partner Shane Raburn founded Instruments of Change. Both grew up in families where instruments were plentiful - and lessons mandatory.

Schubert was a member of the Leto High School Band. Raburn grew up in Clair-Mel and played in the band at Clair-Mel First Assembly of God Church, where his father is pastor.

Now they are members of Baylife Church of Brandon and perform in the church band.

They came up with the idea for Instruments of Change after noticing that fellow musicians tended to collect instruments they didn't need or use.

"It's called GAS - Gear Acquisition Syndrome," Schubert said. "We know so many musicians who would buy and buy instruments just to have them."

They also knew who were hanging onto musical instruments long after their children gave up playing them.

"I remember my mom planted a fern in my trombone and hung it on the wall," Schubert said. "She didn't know what else to do with it."

Musical instruments can be expensive, Raburn said. And with arts and music programs being the first budget cuts at schools, fewer children are getting the opportunity to learn to play an instrument.

Children who do play a musical instrument are far more likely to graduate from high school, score higher in academic pursuits and attend at least some college and are less likely to be involved in drug and alcohol abuse, Schubert said. They also have better self-esteem and confidence, he said.

The idea behind Instruments of Change is to collect unused instruments, refurbish them and provide them - along with instruction - to at-risk children.

Raburn and Schubert have teamed up with the Metropolitan Ministries Charter School on Palm Avenue in Tampa for a pilot program this summer. They are working with the Patel Conservatory at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

From there, they plan to take Instruments of Change to other outreach programs for at-risk children, including YMCA programs, juvenile centers, foster care centers and ministries.

"This is a program that will work with virtually any ministry," Raburn said.

"We'd like to build a model here, and then replicate it across the country," Schubert said.

The duo are off to a sound start.

They put out a call for donations of instruments at Baylife Church. Between the first and second services one Sunday morning, they received enough donations to fill a van, including guitars, keyboards, trombones, trumpets and drums.

Some higher-end instruments will be sold to finance the program, others refurbished and put into the hands of students.

"Not only does this program give them an opportunity to explore music, but owning an instrument gives them a sense of self-esteem," Schubert said. "Some kids are attuned to sports. But for the kids who are musically inclined, cost should not be a barrier."

Schubert and Raburn are seeking corporate sponsors, volunteer music instructors and used musical instruments. "Our only rule is the instrument must have dust on it," Schubert said. "It can't be anything you're using. We want stuff that's been sitting in a closet."

They're also in need of headphones for keyboards and electric guitars.

They will pick up instruments, or the instruments can be dropped off at Baylife Church at 1017 Kingsway Road, Brandon.

For information, call (813) 315-9762, e-mail info@instrumentsofchange.com or go to www.instrumentsofchange.com.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 627-4753.

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