Our Mason student “International Teaching Scholars” recently took part in a fascinating instrument repair workshop with Jason and Jenna Day of Day Violins, as they prepare for their Costa Rica trip in May.
On March 21st, the six “International Teaching Scholars” and several Mason staff visited Day Violins for an evening of instrument repair insights and instrument packing/ shipping logistics. After a short tour of the Day Violins facility (located in Chantilly, VA), the group enjoyed a workshop on basic instrument repair of a violin led by Jason Day. They learned the different parts of the instrument, how to tell a more expensive instrument from a less expensive, and what to look for when fixing an instrument (such as a warped bridge, seam cracks, etc.).
They also took a violin apart and put it back together again, including the strings, bridge, pegs, tailpiece, etc. , and they were given the opportunity to set a sound post- not an easy task!
At the end of the evening, the group was shown where and how the instruments would be packed for shipping to Costa Rica, and the students even had the chance to help get an instrument ready to send.
“These young women caught on very quickly and they now have enough knowledge to help out in the [Costa Rican] schools with minor repairs, if needed,” said Jason Day.
“I was impressed with the experiences the students have already had to prepare them for this trip,” said Jenna Day. “They were well-chosen and work together well. This is going to be an amazing trip, not only for them, but for everyone involved!”
“In preparing for the upcoming outreach initiative to Costa Rica, the International Teaching Scholars had a great time and learned a ton about how to help assess and do some minor repairs to string instruments that may need some ‘tender loving care’ when working with the music students in Costa Rica,” explained Potomac Arts Academy Director Libby Curtis. “Thank you to Day Violins for providing this incredibly helpful (and fun) session!”
A few days later, Instruments in the Attic Coordinator Jeremy Cochran (a Doctoral candidate at Mason’s School of Music) sorted, prepared and labeled the IiA instruments bound for Costa Rica, which will be shipped out before the trip in May.
As an extra special touch, young students from the Potomac Arts Academy wrote colorful and encouraging little notes to their Costa Rican counterparts, which were placed inside the instrument cases.
“There’s just something about the Instruments in the Attic program and being able to provide instruments to those less fortunate that just touches my heart and makes me want to keep changing the world one instrument at a time!” exclaimed Jenna Day.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COSTA RICA OUTREACH INITIATIVE