September 2025

Quarter Notes

This year, thanks to the generosity of donors like you, more than 600 gently used instruments were donated, lovingly refurbished by our talented repair partners, and placed into the hands of music teachers from 46 schools across Colorado at our annual Instrument Presentation Day. These teachers work tirelessly to ensure that eager young musicians are equipped to find their rhythm and let their talents shine.

We’re also excited to debut our new website, where you can explore inspiring stories from students, volunteers, and partners, and see highlights from our recent distribution day.

We recently launched our “Adopt an Instrument” campaign, which culminates on October 31^st. This is an opportunity to help us cover the cost of repairs so even more instruments can find their way into classrooms. Together, we can ensure that every child has the chance to make beautiful music, no matter their circumstances.

Thank you for lending your time, talent, and treasure. With your continued support, we’re creating a future where thousands of children benefit.  

Mark your calendars for an enchanting evening of music and community at our annual donor appreciation event on Wednesday, October 15th, at the historic Savoy Denver.

Join us as we celebrate the life-changing power of music for Colorado students. The evening includes a special live performance from Brook Ferguson, Principal Flutist of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and guitar virtuoso Masa Ito. Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks as you mingle with fellow supporters, music lovers and Bringing Music to Life staff and board members.



Watch your email for an Eventbrite link. RSVPs are required for this special event.

On March 17^th, we launched our 15^th annual instrument donation drive. Sixteen locations across the state generously opened their doors and accepted piles of gently used instruments. In just 13 days, more than 1,000 instruments found their way to the donation sites where they were catalogued and stored until they could be picked up and delivered to our repair partners. That means more than 75 instruments were donated each and every day of the drive! 



We are so grateful to everyone who took the opportunity to breathe new life into an old or discarded instrument. Instead of taking up space in a landfill, these instruments now have a place of honor in school band and orchestra rooms across Colorado. The dents have been repaired, the pitches tuned, strings replaced and each piece has been lovingly shined and cleaned. All in preparation to bring music to life for a new generation of students.

On August 16, Bringing Music to Life hosted its annual Instrument Presentation Day, a milestone for music education across Colorado. Thanks to generous community donors, 622 refurbished instruments were awarded to 46 schools statewide—equipping band and orchestra programs with tools they need to grow. BMTL’s board and a dedicated crew of volunteers organized, labeled, and staged every instrument to ensure a smooth, efficient pickup. Music teachers and school representatives traveled from across the state to collect instruments and share their heartfelt appreciation for these much-needed gifts that strengthen their programs. Special thanks to the University of Denver’s Newman Center for the Performing Arts for hosting the distribution and celebration, and to violinist Aidan Hodges who was accompanied by pianist Beth Nielsen and elevated the day’s spirit with truly beautiful music. Together, we’re transforming silent cases into joyful sound and outfitting a new generation of musicians in classrooms and concert halls across Colorado, year after year.

Remember the first time music tugged at your heart strings? It may have been your first sweep of the bow across the strings of a violin or the thrum of the guitar or the exhilaration you felt at the pounding of a drum. Music has the power to transform us all.

A musical instrument is not only a work of art, it’s also a tool that can change a child’s life. Learning to play an instrument teaches discipline, respect, collaboration, perseverance and coordination. It also enhances self-esteem, social skills and creativity.

Unfortunately, many Colorado students may never reap the benefits that come from making music simply due to cost. The average price for a new French Horn is more than $1,500 and violins and clarinets cost upwards of $500. While many communities have instrument rental programs, a $25-$50 monthly rental fee equates to $225-$450 over the school year. Often, that is simply more than a family can afford. 

The instruments that we collect and refurbish are primarily donated to Title I schools with the goal of providing every child with access to the life-changing experience of making music. This year, we gave the gift of music to 622 new musicians. But more are still waiting.

You can change a child’s life by making a donation to Adopt an Instrument now through October 31^st. The cost of refurbishing an instrument is a fraction of the cost of a new one. And because the instrument is donated to the school, each instrument gives many encore performances as it passes from one generation of young musicians to the next.

Browse our inventory, select the instrument that moves you and change a child’s life!