School of Music instrument sale Mar. 20-21

Finally, your chance to own a tuba.

There’s that empty space in the den just begging for a harpsichord. You know you want one. And the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Music will make it a reality for you at its first instrument surplus sale March 20 and 21.

In conjunction with UW–Madison’s Solid Waste Alternative Program (SWAP), the School of Music sale opens March 20 to nonprofits, government organizations and school districts. The general public is invited March 21.

According to Jim Jordan, the school’s instrument specialist and coordinator of this inaugural sale, more than 1,000 items worth about $500,000 will be available.

John Schaffer, director of the school, expects ensuing transactions to make good financial sense for both the school and the larger community. He says purchasers can realize a nice savings, and the school can use the sale proceeds to fund the repair or replacement of the school’s most important instruments. “It’s a scenario in which everybody wins,” Schaffer says.

Routine wear and tear usually consigns musical equipment to the back room. But Jordan adds that technical advances also make instruments, like computers, obsolete quickly.

Consequently, “we’re redefining where we want to go with our instrument collection, given the new advances,” he says.

Instruments of every description – including a rare African gourd xylophone for $200 – will be on sale, from noon to 6 p.m., both days, in the Humanities building. Harpsichord aficionados will be able to choose from three, ranging in price from $6,000- $12,000. Information about the sale is available on the School of Music web site.