Category: Community Outreach

Instruments in the Attic: Instrument Drive

Post author By Regina Schneider
Post date October 5, 2022

The first Mason Band Concert of the academic year will take place on Monday, October 17^th at 7:30pm in Mason’s Center for The Arts Concert Hall, featuring the Mason Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony, conducted by the new Director of Concert Bands, Dr. William L. Lake, Jr.

Dr. Lake has sparked a partnership with MCAA’s Instruments in the Attic Program by initiating an Instrument Drive to be held at each of the Mason band concerts this year, beginning with his inaugural concert as Director of Concert Bands on 10/17. The next concert dates will be Mason Symphonic Band on 11/21 and Mason Wind Symphony on 12/1. Instruments can be dropped off at the MCAA table in the Center for The Arts lobby prior to each of these concerts, beginning at 7pm. A representative from MCAA will be there to facilitate donations and to answer any questions you may have.

Instruments in the Attic works to give donated instruments a new life by getting them into the hands of students and teachers in need. All donations to help us continue this mission are greatly appreciated! Any questions can be directed via email to Samantha Clarke, Coordinator of the Instruments in the Attic program at sclark55@gmu.edu. We hope you can join us at these concerts and that you consider donating any instruments you have that are no longer being used!

Tickets and more information can be found here: https://music.gmu.edu/events/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D670607084

Follow Mason Bands on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/GMUBANDS

Announcements Community Outreach

Piano Available to Good Home – 08/27/22

Post author By Regina Schneider
Post date August 26, 2022

A generous community member from Burke, VA recently contacted the Academy about gifting her acoustic upright piano to a good home. If anyone is interested in accepting this gift, please contact us ASAP.

The piano (pictured above) is a 48-year-old (approx.) Currier 23904 upright. The piano itself would be free of charge (to a good home); however, the recipient is required to pay for the moving expense, which averages around $250-300 (when using a professional piano moving company) depending on the distance traveled, number of stairs involved, etc. Also, acoustic pianos usually require a tuning from a professional piano tuner after a move as well.

If you think you have a need (and a space) for this piano, it’s a great opportunity to look into. As per usual, we will handle this on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please email us at academy@gmu.edu (no phone calls please) and put “Piano Available to Good Home” in the subject (or simply Reply to the Newsletter email). A recipient will be matched as soon as possible.

Please note that these opportunities typically come up several times throughout the year, so keep checking the Academy Newsletter!

UPDATE: This piano has been claimed, thank you.

Announcements Community Outreach

Piano Available to Good Home – 08/12/22

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date August 11, 2022

The piano (pictured above) is a 60-year-old (approx.) Starrk acoustic upright. The piano itself would be free of charge (to a good home); however, the recipient is required to pay for the moving expense, which averages around $250-300 (when using a professional piano moving company) depending on the distance traveled, number of stairs involved, etc. Also, acoustic pianos usually require a tuning from a professional piano tuner after a move as well.

Please note that these opportunities typically come up several times throughout the year, so keep checking the Academy Newsletter!

UPDATE: This piano has been claimed, thank you.

Community Outreach

Piano Available to Good Home – 05/25/22

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date May 27, 2022

A generous community member from Falls Church, VA recently contacted the Academy about gifting her acoustic upright piano to a good home. If anyone is interested in accepting this gift, please contact us asap.

The piano (pictured above) is a 50-year-old (approx.) Kimball acoustic upright. The piano itself would be free of charge (to a good home); however, the recipient is required to pay for the moving expense, which averages around $250-300 (when using a professional piano moving company) depending on the distance traveled, number of stairs involved, etc. Also, acoustic pianos usually require a tuning from a professional piano tuner after a move as well.

Please note that these opportunities typically come up several times throughout the year, so keep checking the Academy Newsletter!

UPDATE: This piano has been claimed, thank you.

Community Outreach Instruments in the Attic

April 23rd Instruments In The Attic Gotcha Day A Resounding Success

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date April 29, 2022

Last Saturday, local music teachers joined Mason Community Arts Academy staff at Day Violins for a special IiA Gotcha Day, hosted by Day Violins owner and MCAA Board Member Jenna Day.

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As part of the event, luthier Ben Jones-Hayes led an excellent string instrument repair workshop for the teachers, demonstrating basic instrument repairs, teaching them solutions for instrument emergencies in the classroom, and discussing the intricacies of string instrument construction and restoration.

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Afterwards, teachers shared ideas and thoughts on how IiA can continue to better serve our local schools’ string programs and the community. At the end of the event, string instruments from the IiA collection previously repaired by Day Violins technicians were made available for the teachers to take back to their string programs for students in need.

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Thanks so much to everyone involved in making this a great community event, especially Day Violins for hosting!

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR INSTRUMENTS IN THE ATTIC OUTREACH PROGRAM