Instrument Shortage Leaves California School Band Singing the Blues

Budget woes at one California school have left band students trading drums and bass for pencils and desktops.

Interest in music has spiked at Arcade Fundamental Middle School in Sacramento, but with state funding for educational programs dwindling, there are not enough instruments to go around, The Sacramento Bee reported.

"We currently have about 15 to 20 students playing pencils because we don't have any more instruments to pass out," music teacher Donna Pool told the paper.

This year, Arcade’s music program has 190 students, an increase of 50 children from last year, according to The Sacramento Bee.

The school is now appealing to the public for donations of musical instruments, regardless of their condition.

Click here for more from The Sacramento Bee, including information on how to donate an instrument.