Instruments in the Attic is one of Potomac Arts Academy’s most active outreach initiatives. The program collects used musical instruments from conscientious community members, repairs them as needed, and recycles them back into the hands of deserving students, including one young violinist named Ethan.
Instruments in the Attic accepts used musical instruments as well as financial donations for repair and maintenance. Donors bring their instruments to our offices in Fairfax, where they are processed and evaluated for necessary repairs. Instruments are either added to our inventory or sent to one of our partner organizations, such as Day Violins, for repairs. We have received all kinds of donations over the years, including orchestral instruments, guitars, ukuleles, and even a didgeridoo!
The repair process varies from instrument to instrument. In some situations, all that is needed is a few new strings for a guitar or a simple chemical-cleaning for a brass instrument. More involved repairs include: gluing cracks and seams or cutting new bridges for string instruments, repadding keys on woodwind instruments, and repairing slides and valves on brass instruments. In some cases, a complete reconstruction of an instrument is needed.
Once instruments are returned to playing condition, they are added to the inventory of instruments available for students in need. We partner with local schools including Potomac Middle School, Woodburn Elementary School, and Rolling Hills Elementary School to support their music programs. We have also sent instruments overseas to support music education initiatives in Rwanda, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.
Instruments are available for loan to any student or community member who has need of it. One recipient of an Instruments in the Attic violin is Ethan Hemmings, a freshman at Wakefield High School in Arlington and a violin student of Teaching Artist Claire Allen. “This violin has allowed me to push my technique and my musicality further than any previous violin I’ve played,” said Ethan. “I am grateful for the time and effort for the refurbishment of this violin which gives me a clear tone for dynamics and a noticeable ring for my recitals to entertain audiences. I don’t think I ever would have had access to such a wonderful violin at this point of my life without the generous opportunity that Instruments in the Attic has given me.”
His mother adds, “I love our son’s new violin. It has a rich and beautiful sound. His playing is deeper and clearer. He plays with much more ease and since the quality is better, it requires few repairs. I don’t think we ever would have had access to such a fine violin without the generosity of Instruments in the Attic.”
Please enjoy this video of Ethan performing “At Twilight” by English composer Ethel Harradan Glover with pianist David Norfrey this past June:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-Z-doXU3CA
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