That old horn can make new dreams come true

McCook Public and St. Patrick schools have a problem, but it's a good one.

Music, such as MNB's upcoming Hot Summer Nights concert Thursday with the Silver Creek Band and Aug. 13 with Jimmy Dee and the Fabulous Destinations, adds a lot to our community culture, as does the McCook Concert Association series and much of the entertainment presented by the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association and McCook Arts Council.

But that entertainment takes dedicated musicians and years of training and practice to cultivate talent worthy of public performance.

That's where the current school "problem" comes in.

Last year, there were 80 students in the McCook High School Band and 34 instrumental students between fifth and eighth grades at St. Pat's.

Those bands are growing, but not every student can afford to purchase an instrument. Of course, there are traditional rent-to-own programs, and they are probably a good idea for students who may not always be as dedicated to instrumental music in the long run.

But even those payments may be beyond the financial capability of many families, especially in the case of more expensive instruments.

The McCook Optimists decided they wanted to help, contacted McCook Public Schools and St. Patrick's band instructors and got the go-ahead.

If you have an old band instrument, in reasonably good shape, laying around, consider bringing it to the McCook High School band room on Saturday, Aug. 15, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trombones, trumpets and snare drums would be appropriate for donation, they said.

It doesn't have to be in perfect condition; the schools will work with Hershberger Music Co. to make sure the instrument can be repaired or restored into playable condition.

The MHS band room at 600 West Seventh can be reached through the driveway between the high school and junior high school buildings, then take a left into the parking lot behind the high school.

Then take the double doors at the rear of the high school that lead to the band room.

A recent Facebook posting showed the 1973 McCook High School band, which marched in President Nixon's second inaugural parade.

You can be sure members of that band, which numbered well over 100, have a lot of memories about that trip to Washington D.C.

Perhaps your donation of that old clarinet or trumpet will make a memory of an experience like that a reality in the years to come.