New Instruments Strike a Bright Note at The Crane School of Music
Partnerships with Yamaha and Eastman Winds Bring Loan of 237 Instruments to SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music
Potsdam, NY (06/30/2020) — SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music has been named a recipient of a significant loan of 237 new instruments intended to bolster music education. The instruments, valued at $367,896, arrived at Crane over the past week, courtesy of the musical equipment companies Yamaha and Eastman Winds.
The delivery marks the third year of Crane's partnership with Yamaha, and its first such arrangement with Eastman. The instruments are vital in replacing worn out "techniques" instruments that students use to learn secondary instruments, such as when a saxophone major enriches their learning by spending a semester playing trumpet, said Miles DeCastro, an instructor of instrument repair technology, who is responsible for the maintenance of more than 1,200 instruments at Crane.
"Student level instruments are generally meant to last 10 to 15 years, but some of ours are 40 to 60 years old," said DeCastro. "With excellent care -- which Crane can provide, given our in-house repair shop -- you could reasonably hope to double the life expectancy, but tripling or quadrupling is not reasonable. Worn-out instruments create a large, frustrating barrier to learning for students."
Yamaha and Eastman will receive back the lightly used instruments at the end of each academic year and will be able to sell them at a discount to their network of dealers. Crane has been privileged to have strong partnerships over many years with leading companies in the music industry, which have brought numerous benefits to the school and its students, said Dr. Michael Sitton, dean of The Crane School of Music.
"These loan inventories of new instruments benefit our students in critical music education classes," said Sitton. "Having these wonderful new instruments available for student use -- supplementing Crane's own extensive inventory of older instruments -- enriches students' experience and enhances their ability to learn effectively. We are deeply grateful to Yamaha and Eastman Winds for their commitment to music education."
About The Crane School of Music:
Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York's only All-Steinway institution. For more information, please visit http://www.potsdam.edu/crane.
###
Media Attachments
Miles DeCastro, an instrumental repair technician and instructor at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, opens and inspects student musical instruments that the School has been loaned, thanks to new partnerships with Yamaha and Eastman Winds.
Miles DeCastro, an instrumental repair technician and instructor at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, opens and inspects student musical instruments that the School has been loaned, thanks to new partnerships with Yamaha and Eastman Winds.
SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music
Alexandra Jacobs Wilke, (315) 267-2918, news@potsdam.eduShare this Story
Recent News
- SUNY Potsdam Class Develops Business Plans with German Students at Cologne University of Applied Sciences
- Crane Candlelight Concerts to be Broadcast on North Country Public Radio and Syndicated on PBS
- SUNY Potsdam Law Enforcement Training Institute Recognizes Fall Graduates
- SUNY Potsdam Joins FIRE-NET Network to Advance Wildfire Resilience and Environmental Justice in the Adirondacks
- Potsdam College Foundation Welcomes Joyce Yianoukos '71 & '76 of Colton, NY, as Newest Trustee
- Potsdam College Foundation Welcomes Richard J. Evans '73 of Clifton Park, NY, as Newest Trustee
- SUNY Potsdam Launches New Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education
- SUNY Potsdam Hosts Annual Holiday Art Auction to Benefit Arts Programming
- Crane Candlelight Concert Returns with World Premiere & Holiday Favorites
- Crane School of Music Student Ensembles Take Center Stage in Upcoming Concerts