DETROIT – A local nonprofit is asking Detroiters to dig out old or gently used instruments this October as part of its annual instrument drive.
Detroit Harmony is collecting instruments, which the nonprofit will refurbish and distribute to students across the city who lack access to music education.
“It was created to make sure that every student in Detroit had access to music education and instruments,” said Damien Crutcher, Director of Detroit Harmony.
For more than two decades, the nonprofit has been collaborating with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and other community groups to bring music programming to students facing barriers to access.
“For us, we want to fill in the gaps, wherever we can. If a kid needs an instrument, if they need private lessons, if they need to be in a program, we actually place them in a program,” said Crutcher.
October is especially important for Detroit Harmony because it is the organization’s primary month for collecting instruments.
“We really would love to collect about 2,000 instruments to get out to students. So, it’s a big deal,” Crutcher said.
Detroit Harmony collects items that will be refurbished and given to students across the city who want to learn.
The initiative provides each child with a personal instrument to practice at home, individual training with a professional artist, and other resources through Detroit Harmony’s programming.
“We’ll take every brass, every percussion, every string, but no piano. And we need harps,” Crutcher said.
Accepted instruments include flutes, clarinets, guitars, trumpets, trombones, xylophones, violins, harps, accordions, and more. Pianos cannot be accepted.
Crutcher urged residents to check attics, garages, and closets.
“We’ll take them. Every instrument is an opportunity. It doesn’t matter if they haven’t been played in a while. If they are in bad shape, we have some repair partners that will help get them in shape, and we’ll get those out to kids. So, dig them out of the garage, from under the bed. Wherever and get them to us,” Crutcher said.
Local 4 will be at Detroit Harmony to help accept donations on Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The drop-off location is 3632 Cass Avenue.
Click here for more information about Detroit Harmony.
If you couldn’t make it Wednesday
Instruments can be dropped off at these locations during business hours throughout October:
- A&G Central Music — 1080 E Maple Rd, Troy, MI 48083
- McCourt’s Music Group — 665 E Elmwood Ave, Troy, MI 48083
- Shar Music — 2465 S Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
- Clarkston United Methodist Church — 6600 Waldon Rd, Village of Clarkston, MI 48346
Here are some other drop-off options:
- Detroit Harmony Building between 10 a.m. to noon every Saturday in October — 3632 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI, 48201
- The Detroit Community Ensembles concert at Orchestra Hall at 7 p.m. Oct. 29 — 3711 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201