Cameron Cowans has collected 69 instruments through his Band Together Westchase program. He wants to reach 100 donations at a drop-off event on March 28. The Farnell Middle School eighth grader launched this drive as his Eagle Scout project with Troop 46.
The program gathers used instruments and delivers them to schools and youth music programs that serve low-income families. Cowans works with Recycled Tunes, which repairs the donations and matches them with students. Teachers can request particular instruments for their students through this group.
“I have partnered with an organization called Recycled Tunes that will help me get the instruments repaired and connected to students at low-income schools and youth music programs,” Cowans told the Tampa Beacon. “Teachers also have the ability to request a specific instrument from Recycled Tunes for a student in need.”
The saxophone player performs in two bands at his school. He came up with this idea after discovering old instruments at home.
“I knew I could donate (them) and figured that others probably had instruments collecting dust that they could donate, too,” he said.
Donations have included pianos, guitars, ukuleles, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, saxophones, violins, drums, keyboards, a triangle, an oboe, a mandolin, xylophones, a recorder, and an accordion. People from across Tampa Bay have responded, including those from Pinellas and Pasco counties. Cowans is on track to earn his Eagle rank as a teenager — a milestone many don’t achieve until they’re older or almost done with high school.
“I wanted to do a music instrument drive so that people could drop off their instruments and see the impact that they are making on the community,” Cowans said.
The project has grown past what he first imagined. “It just shows me that we are one big family and that so many people love music as much as I do,” he said. “My mission started out as ‘Band Together Westchase,’ but has grown into something so much bigger that it should be called ‘Band Together Tampa Bay.'”
He will accept donations through the end of April. He hopes to make this an annual event.