Years ago, Seattle Public Schools had an outstanding music program that reached many students, but the money that had financed these valuable programs has dissipated over the years.

Instruments and musical education for many students are out of reach, and some worry that music education is on the brink of extinction.

Something is being done to counter this trend. A new program, Rotary Music4Life, wants to make sure that Seattle schools don't go silent. The program, which only began to take shape last fall, is a joint partnership of the Seattle Rotary Club, Seattle Public Schools, and the Northwest Youth Music Association. The program hopes to provide instruments and music education to students who lack such opportunities.

"We haven't had an instrument drive in over five years," says Carri Campbell, visual and performing arts manager for Seattle Public Schools. "We need to replace and increase the amount of instruments in the district. Schools do hold their own fund-raisers for instruments, but Music4Life is a valuable support system. We are very grateful to the Rotary Club and Northwest Youth Music Association.

"When budget cuts come in the schools, the arts are the first thing to go," said Campbell. "We had two major tax levy failures in early '80s. The problem is that once the money is gone from the programs, it is hard to rebuild them."

That lack of funding means that fewer and fewer students have access to music education and instruments.

"We have some shining programs, such as at Garfield and Roosevelt high schools, but it's not the whole district. Not enough time is set aside for it, and some schools simply do not have the capacity," Campbell said.

Only 36 percent of students at fourth and fifth grade level get even half a day of music per week according to Dick Lee, director of the Office of Schools Partnerships, which initially conceived of the program. "That age group is where we are beginning the focus of our program. We want to target the younger kids and get them engaged early."

The goal of Rotary Music4Life is to raise that to 50 percent of students in the next 12 months, according to Lee.

"We are focusing right now on those students who want to get involved with music but can't afford it," Lee said. "We want to try to match the need with supply. As the program develops, however, we hope to target those kids who don't know about music but might be interested if they had the opportunity to have access to it."

Access to instruments is one of the biggest obstacles facing students who wish to pursue music. In the school's current Elementary Instrumental Music program, 40 percent of students borrow instruments from the school, according to Rotary Music4Life. As the schools attempt to attract new students, the need for new instruments will rise as well. The program hopes to collect 1,200 instruments in the next two years to help satisfy any and all demand.

That is where the Rotary Club of Seattle comes into the picture. "We are starting with Rotary members," says David Endicott, a representative for the Rotary Club.

"There are 17 clubs in the city of Seattle," notes Endicott. "We are talking to each one ... and asking if they have an instrument sitting in the attic they aren't using, that we would be happy to take as a donation."

The fund-raising target for phase one of the project is $640,614. However, Endicott notes that this is a moving target, with the target value being more around $450,000 at the moment. These figures are not hard cash, however. This is the estimated value of the instruments and services they hope to fund with the program. "An entry level trumpet is around $150 to $200," points out Endicott. "Acquiring up to 1,200 instruments comprises most of value of our budgeting."

The instruments will be heading to those children with the most need for help getting access to instruments. Schools with high levels of students who receive free and reduced-price lunches will be the primary recipients. However, elementary teachers will have discretion to help allocate instruments to their students as well. The hope is that those children without the economic means will have a chance to enjoy the gift of music.

"It's expensive to rent instruments," says Campbell. "We want to make sure any child who wants education gets education. We want to make sure we have brilliant programs for all our kids."

For more information or if you're interested in donating an instrument please visit http://sirensongweb.4yourbenefits.com/M4L/index.html.

Nicholas Tichy is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory and may be reached via bnteditor@robinsonnews.com