Instrument Drive being held in Conjunction with Seaside Height’s Music Festival

If you have an instruments lying around that you no longer use, Hugh J. Boyd Elementary School in Seaside Heights will take them. The school is holding its first instrument drive the weekend of June 5 & 6, during the Borough's Music Festival.

Music Teacher Jessica Thompson said while elementary school students are provided with instruments, many of the students drop out of the instrumental music program by the time they reach middle school and high school.

"We have a lot of students that can't afford instruments," said Thompson. She added that 98% of the students are in the free or reduced lunch program.

Out of 62 students in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades, 35 of them currently participate in the instrumental music program, according to Thompson.

Thompson is hoping to collect as many as 50 instruments from the drive, such as clarinets, flutes, saxophones, trumpets, and snare drums.

"These instruments will become part of the District, but will give these students an opportunity to play throughout Middle School and High School," she said.

Anyone who would like to donate an instrument can drop it off at Aqua Blu, Route 37 in Toms River, June 5 and 6.

For more information, you can visit the event's Facebook page HJB Instrument Drive or send an email to jthompson@sshschool.org.