Tyner High School band member Jermaiya Grimes plays a new trombone Wednesday during practice at Tyner Middle Academy.HOW TO HELPDonate instruments to Tyner Academy’s marching band in the atrium of Silverdale Baptist Church at 7236 Bonny Oaks Drive between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. today and Nov. 8 and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 9. Or call Peggy Payne at 667-4972 if you need an instrument picked up. Tyner Academy band also will accept instruments, or checks can be submitted to Tyner Pride Band, c/o Band Director Elias Smith, Tyner Academy, 6836 Tyner Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Peggy Payne graduated from Tyner Academy back when it was still Tyner High School.
“I won’t say when,” she joked.
So it upset Payne to learn in September that the school’s marching band used instruments so old and battered that they were taped together.
“It broke my heart when that girl was having to play a tuba with duct tape holding it together,” she said.