That clarinet in the closet or guitar in the garage could be the beginning of a Suncoast student’s music career. The Del Couch Music Education Foundation collects donated instruments and equipment for students whose families can’t afford them, offering instruments, mentoring and access to a professional recording studio at Manatee School for the Arts in Palmetto, all at no cost.
Founder Del Couch knows exactly what a gift like this can do. A trumpet from his high school band instructor launched his own music career, and the foundation he built has since helped alumni like American Idol finalist Sam Woolf and singer-songwriter Matt Walden, along with performers Colton Cason and Taylor Zebracki. Many donated instruments need only minor repairs before they’re ready for a student’s hands.
Before dropping anything off, call 941-545-4379 or email [email protected] so the foundation can coordinate. Cost is the biggest barrier to music education for local families, and a donation from your closet could remove it for one student. What’s the instrument in your house that deserves a second chance?
