Dacoda Instrument Drive Annual Collection

The Dakota Instrument Drive kicks off in the spring each year, collecting band and orchestra instruments for Rapid City music students. Instruments are accepted through May 31 at the Books-A-Million store at 2130 North Haines Ave in Rapid City. The drive operates under the umbrella nonprofit Backroom Productions.

If an aspiring music student’s family doesn’t have the resources to buy or rent an instrument, the Dacoda Instrument Drive steps in to help. The instruments are dispersed through the Club for Boys and YFS. Occasionally, the program will donate to a student in need who does not participate in these programs.

Don Lerdal, owner of Dakota Backline, repairs the stringed instruments. A local band instrument repairman, Bruce Lutz, handles the band instruments. Many of the instruments are playable, but may need new strings, a reed, or a few tweaks to make it perfect for a student. These additional require additional funds to be raised each year. Donations of cash or checks made out to the Dacoda Instrument Drive can be dropped off with Barrows at Books-A-Million.

The DaCoda Instrument Drive allows donors to “pass on the music” to deserving students. To donate, drop instruments off at Books-A-Million. The drive will distribute the instruments to students wishing to participate in local school music programs in the fall of 2022.

For more information contact Tammy Barrows at email barrows0@rap.midco.net  or Books-A-Million at 2130 North Haines Avenue Rapid City (605) 341-2183.