Dr. Benjamin Yates鈥 trombone isn鈥檛 the only instrument he鈥檒l take to the Dominican Republic when he travels to the Caribbean nation to perform with professional orchestras.
The assistant professor in the at the 星空无限传媒 plans to bring flutes, clarinets, saxophones, bassoons, oboes, trumpets, horns, violins, and other band instruments.
Yates needs help packing, though.
He鈥檚 seeking donated instruments 鈥 working instruments or those needing minor repairs 鈥 that will be passed on to student musicians in cities such as Santiago, La Vega, San Pedro de Macor铆s and Santo Domingo.
鈥淢aybe you have a family member who started in band in fifth grade then dropped out on high school. Or, you鈥檝e got an old instrument that鈥檚 been sitting in the attic forever that you don鈥檛 know what to do with. Whatever it may be, I can find a home for it,鈥 Yates said.
He鈥檚 helping two professors from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa 鈥 Tony Guzman and Michael K. Smith 鈥 coordinate the donations. Yates studied under Guzman and Smith at the college, where he earned a bachelor's degree in music education and trombone performance in 2008.
The Dominican Trombonists Association invited the trio to be featured artists and clinicians at its 2021 conference from Aug. 4-8. They鈥檒l play with the Moca Youth Concert Band and the La Vega Youth Symphony Orchestra and teach a master class
They鈥檒l also visit several community ensembles, groups of amateurs ranging from schoolchildren to adults that don鈥檛 receive funding from school systems or governments. They鈥檒l provide instruction to the ensembles, and instruments for the students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 inconceivable to some of us, but many players in these ensembles don鈥檛 have the money to repair or replace instruments, so many of them are left with instruments that barely work,鈥 Yates explained.
It鈥檚 a dynamic he鈥檚 seen firsthand. During a previous visit to the Dominican Republic, Yates 鈥渨atched someone play a trombone that had a water key missing from the end of the slide. They plugged the hole with a piece of gum and wrapped some tape around it.鈥
The educators have also established a with a $2,500 goal to cover repairs needed for donated instruments and shipping costs. Any money left over will be used to purchase 鈥渕oderately-priced used instruments that are in working condition鈥 from outlets such as eBay, Yates explained.
For more information about the project, where to bring instruments or how to donate, contact Yates at benjamin.yates@louisiana.edu or (337) 482-5219.
Photo caption: The 星空无限传媒鈥檚 Dr. Benjamin Yates is seeking donated musical instruments he will pass on to students in the Dominican Republic. Yates, an assistant professor and trombonist, will perform with professional orchestras in the Caribbean nation in August. Photo credit: 星空无限传媒