I just received the sweetest note from a friend telling me about a young man named Jacob Rabin, who is 12. He is trying to collect good used musical instruments to donate
to the schools. If you have a sax, clarinet, violin, timpani, harp -- or whatever -- laying around the house not doing anything, consider Jacob's project.
Well, let's let Jacob tell it:
I am 12 years old and going into middle school at Kastner in Fresno, CA. I am Jewish and will have my Bar Mitzvah next year on July 4, 2009. I have been working toward my Bar Mitzvah for the last 4 years. My Bar Mitzvah is when I will read the torah in Hebrew before my congregation for the first time. At our temple you have to do a mitzvah project, which means you have to do something to improve our community as part of my Bar Mitzvah preparation. For my project I am going to collect musical instruments.I have been playing music since I was 6 years old. I have a great teacher Mrs. Luna who has agreed to help me deliver the instruments I receive to the schools in need in the Fresno area. I know that schools are not getting enough money for music programs. Music has been an important part of my education, and I want kids to continue to experience and have fun with music.
If you have any instruments in your home from a recorder to a piano that nobody in your house is using and you would like to donate it to a good cause, please send it to Jacob Rabin, P.O. Box 26422, Fresno, CA 93729-6422. If you have any questions you can contact me through my email address which is jewjacob@gmail.com. If you live in the Fresno area I would be happy to arrange to pick up any instruments, just send me an email and I will come to pick it up.
If you don't have an instrument but would like to make a monetary contribution, I will be donating any funds I get to the music departments most in need of instruments. Thank you very much to Mrs. Luna for helping me designate any instruments and funds that I receive.
My goal is to get at least 3 working instruments.
Jacob,
A very noble thing to do. I applaud your efforts and I'm going to guess ...or hope rather that you'll be getting more than 3.
My daughter just decided to learn clarinet at her school and the school didn't have very many instruments so we had to buy one. It was actually cheaper than renting one on a one year contract. I tell you that because It sounds like there are so many schools facing this problem. Again, cheers to you and I wish you luck. And if my daughter decides she doesn't like clarinet, I'll let you know.
I'll pass on the word. Go get 'em.
MOI played the French Horn......yes my dears, even at early age MOI was full of hot air......
Put MOI down for an instrument, one has to encourage young people to appreciate music.
Jacob, You should try posting your request to Fresno freecycle. I'm sure its nearly 5,000 members will have instruments to donate. Good luck.