| Author | Message | ||
     Nakaille |
As some of you know I work in Newark with kids with HIV/AIDS. I have a family I'm working with where there are 5 kids. Mom and the youngest are infected with HIV. Mom is quite ill and we thought we were going to lose her just last month. She has stabilized somewhat, thank goodness. In discussing mom's plans for her children's care after she dies or becomes too incapacitated we got into a discussion yesterday about her wishes for her 14/nearly 15 year old daughter. This child, who has a lot of responsibility for her younger sibs, is a good kid with a serious love of music and the flute in particular. "T" has taken flute lessons for many years and rented through the Newark school system. This year, however, she entered Barringer H.S. where there is apparently NO music program, or at minimum, no flute instruction available. The flute was the one thing mom felt the kid had that was just hers and that kept her sane and off the streets. Because of mom's illness they applied to Arts H.S. too late to be considered for last fall. I asked mom to contact Arts High to find out if they accept transfers in the sophomore class. I also asked her to contact NJPAC because they have a young musicians scholarship program of some sort. I don't know how talented the kid is and I honestly don't care because the flute represents love and joy to the child more than anything. BUT, if she were to get into Arts High or NJPAC she'd need to be able to audition. She can't because she doesn't have access to an instrument. AND she needs a flute for her own mental health as far as I can tell. Mom says she becomes very sad and wistful when she sees someone playing flute on tv. I'm also going to try to collect some CD's of Rampal and others to offer to her to keep that passion alive amid all the noise of her daily life. Anyway, I am trying to figure out how to get a flute donated. Second-hand would be fine. Thanks for reading this and thinking about it. Bacata | ||
| Nilmiester |
Bacata: How much would a new one cost? I am sure just using people on this board we could get the money together. | ||
| Kathy |
I'm in. Bacata, please let us know how we can get this girl what she needs. | ||
| Cfa |
Count me in also. Let me know how much you need. | ||
| Claire |
I have a flute that I have not played in so long, I don't know if it will work, but I can give it to her. Please contact me via csimon@gv2.com | ||
| Debby |
In case you are still looking for a flute - my kid takes piano lessons at Andy's Family music Center in Livingston, and I know they sell a lot of used child-sized and full-sized instruments - sometimes pretty cheaply. I'm pretty sure I've seen flutes there, so e-mail me @ sonic789@msn.com if we do take a collection, and I can tell them the story and try to get a great price. | ||
| Nina |
Count me in. | ||
| Curmudgeon |
Bacata - I have an old Bundy silver-plated school flute, including the case, that hasn't been used in many years but should be fine with only a little bit of an overhaul. It's around 35 years old. Let me know if you're interested and we can exchange e-mail info then. | ||
| Curmudgeon |
Follow-up: I just cleaned the flute up a bit. It may not be silver-plated; I'm not sure...but it seems to play fine (at least it sounds as good as I've ever been able to make it sound ;-) Anyway, it's available... | ||
| Nakaille |
You guys are all GREAT! Thank you so much! I will contact the folks who have flutes on hand already later today or tomorrow when I get a few minutes free to see what arrangements we can make. Okay, getting misty-eyed over here, now! Gotta go! THANKS! Bacata | ||
| Musicme |
Bacata: This is the best that Maplewood has to offer. Caring , committed people. Thanks to all that responded. | ||
| Mlj |
Just read this thread. Reinforces my faith. | ||
| Nakaille |
I have checked with a friend who is a serious musician about getting old instruments up to speed. Apparently, with flutes, the pads and corks dry out over time. This would not be apparent immediately but after a couple of weeks of playing it would be quite evident in the sound. It is possible to have them refurbished but is not necessarily cheap so I may still come back to you guys about a donation for repair. (My friend spent $200 a few years ago to get a flute refurbished that she wanted to give a friend's daughter. The flute was about 30 years old at the time and cost about $120 new.) Now, student flutes go for between $400 and $500, she thinks. Anyone with recent experience buying a flute for a kid? Anyone know someone in instrument repair business who might donate the services? Thanks again to all. I always knew I loved Maplewood! You're just reminding me of why. Bacata | ||
| Argon_Smythe |
Bacata, don't forget South Orange! I'd like to be in too. If you have enough for a flute already, maybe some $ could go to sheet music, CDs, or lessons? | ||
| Eliz |
Count me in if you need anything. | ||
| Michelez |
Just so happens, Bacata, that my close friend is not only a flute teacher, but is currently doing an apprenticeship in flute repair with a rather talented repair guy in Northern NJ. I'll ask her tonite how much she'd charge for refurbishment, or better yet, if she'd donate the service (I have a good sense that she will). This is great--looks like your girl's almost got her flute! Michele P.S. Happy Lunar New Year--long time, no see (I'm sure it's my turn to be in touch...does this count???) | ||
| Chris |
Bacata, let me know if you are going to take donations for the flute or for CDs or sheet music. You're right. This is what makes Maplewood a great place to live ... | ||
| Nakaille |
What a crew! What resources! THANK YOU TO ALL, South Orange and Maplewood friends alike! Michele, I'll call you. Xin nian kwai le! Xie xie. Bacata | ||
| Les |
I don't know if this would be helpful at this point, but I have been successful at buying items through eBay, the online auction site. In fact, I purchased my daughter 2 new top-name flutes via that service at incredibly low prices. If refurbishing a used flute would cost more than say,$200, may I recommend that a fund be started (some wonderful folks have already offered, and I'd like to contribute as well). I'd be happy to search around eBay, if you'd like assistance, and find something that would suit this aspiring young flutist. | ||
| Spw784 |
Nakaille / Bakata / Michele - You speak Chinese? I've bben looking for someone to practice with , as well as someone to advise me as to grocery stores/restaurants for CHinese/Asian food. (I just married a man of CHinese background)... Celebrating my first "official" New Year as a married couple! | ||
| Curmudgeon |
Bacata - You can contact me at auto87336@hushmail.com to arrange my getting the flute to you. I'll be available this weekend...let me know | ||
| Nakaille |
"Speak" is way too advanced a word for my Mandarin. My 4 year old daughter and I just started CSL classes this past September (in Westfield.) However, my teacher called me tonight to make sure I was ready for my part in the Chinese New Year school assembly this Saturday and quizzed me on the phone. When I finished she said A++. I was so proud of my little sentence!  My partner and I traveled to China nearly 4 years ago to adopt Julia. Hence the interest in learning Mandarin. I enjoyed languages decades ago in junior high and high school and I've been pleased to find that I still have the capacity to learn. Of course, the brain of a 4 year old is so wired for language that she picks it up effortlessly and corrects me without thinking about it (and she's right 95% of the time!) The State Education Dept is right on the mark with this world languages requirement for elementary school. It is so easy for kids to do this at a young age. Then they can easily do a 3rd or 4th language on top of that. The stores you saw listed this week are the ones we've found. Nothing new to add there, I'm afraid. Bacata | ||
| Dave |
Xin nian kuai le! Wo ye shuo zhongwen danshi wode fayin bu hao. | ||
| Michelez |
Hi there Bacata, I just got the OK from my friend, Linda, who said that she and/or the repair guy she apprentices with will do the flute refurbishment/repairs, happily! Speak to you soon, Michele | ||
| Nakaille |
Wow, I think it's time for me to call this girl's mom and give her the good news! Michele: I'm making arrangements to pick up the flutes this weekend. Are you around on Sunday? You folks really made my week!!! Bacata | ||
| Cfa |
I'd still like to give something for this girl. It seems to me that she has a lot of responsibility and probably doesn't get the chance to be a teenager. Maybe she could spend a day at the mall or whatever teenagers do Let me know | ||
| Kathy |
When I first saw Bacata's post, I put out a request to the members of the Home and School board at Columbia HS, and have gotten back a couple of responses, one for a flute and one with a clarinet. Obviously this was a relatively small group that was tapped, and Bacata got what she needed before I reached out further (through the Music Parents' Association, say). But it makes me wonder whether there might be some way to set up a musical-instrument bank or exchange program of some sort. Any ideas, anyone? | ||
| Napes |
I have an old clarinet I haven't used in maybe 20 years, but it's in perfect working order. I'd like to donate it to a kid like the girl who needed a flute. Bacata, is there anything you can do to hook me up with a needy kid who loves music? | ||
| Ras |
Now that I am registered to be "online," I too have a flute for donation. It is a nickel plated bundy of the band variety. Any thoughts on who else may benefit from a flute? Any contacts with our music department? | ||
| Nakaille |
Hi folks. Great job all around on the flute! The flutes are on their way to the repair folks. As to other instruments and donating to other kids, I don't have connections to the music program in Newark but if folks are interested I'll see what connections I can make. Does anyone else already have a connection? I also like the suggestions various people are making toward an instrument exchange or something similar. (I love recycling in all its various forms.) For people who would like to donate toward sheet music, CD's, etc for this particular child, would it be possible to get gift certificates from appropriate sources? As a University-based program it can be difficult to receive cash and not have it disappear into the general maw. The mom has a car so she could get to some places in the area. Please e-mail me at nakaille@home.com if you're interested in doing this. Thanks, Bacata |
