Remember the time you learned how to play the solo from "Welcome to the Jungle" on the clarinet (with your buddy John backing you up on flute)? Or the strange advent of puberty and marching bands, when your love of the tuba kept you near the cute chick with the braids playing the piccolo, even though she was totally hooking up with that douche Philip on the tom-toms? Or, even, those years in the chorus classes that taught you to sing from your stomach, something that's paid off with each show you play and each song you've recorded?

Sadly, many kids won't. With the continued economic recession and the passage of No Child Left Behind has come significantly decreased funding for arts education in public schools. What gets tested gets taught, as it is those scores that help determine many schools' funding for future years.

On April 1st, birthday boys Tom Cheshire and Eric Lee wanted to help, even if in a small way. The two hosted a benefit at the Star Bar to support the continuance of music in schools, and raised about $1,200, all of which was donated.

We chatted it up with Tom about the show a couple weeks back. Listen to the interview here.