I am posting this topic not to receive any, “So nice of you!” comments, so please don’t. It is not about me. I am posting this comment to make a suggestion for those of you with instruments you no longer use, or if you are upgrading and want to find something to do with the instrument you are upgrading from.

I decided to upgrade my Fiddlershop 15 1/2” Concert Deluxe Viola. I was going to trade it in. I thought about it and decided not to do that. I had fun playing it for a couple years and it has a lovely sound. There is nothing physically wrong with it. I decided to donate it instead.

I decided a school district with an orchestra could definitely use it. The school district in my area does not have an orchestra. I was going to call the school I graduated from to see if they had added an orchestra. I really doubted it, but I was going to try there. Then it dawned on me. The city 12-15 miles east of us has an orchestra. I called the school to see if they would like it and was told to bring it into the superintendent’s office. We did that last week.

I included the case, the carbon bow, a shoulder rest, the chin rest that I love on it, and a note. The note was for the student who received it. Just a little note from me.

I also included a note to the Superintendent. I told him that I wanted to donate this to the school district orchestra. I said they could keep it at the school in case someone forgot theirs or a student’s viola was being repaired. The other option was to give this 15 1/2” viola to a student in need who either needed a better 15 1/2” viola, or was struggling with a larger viola and could not afford another viola. They were pleased to get it.

I received a letter from the Superintendent. They were ecstatic. The orchestra teacher said that they do, indeed, have  student in the orchestra in need of a good 15 1/2” viola and the student is planning to continue with viola after graduating, and thanked me for donating the Fiddlershop Concert Deluxe 15 1/“2 viola.

I am still upgrading the viola, but not trading in the other. It will cost me a little more out-of-pocket, but to give it to a young student instead? Well, as they say, “priceless!”

I think this was the best option. Now a student in the orchestra in the neighboring school district has a viola he or she can play and learn on.

My point is to consider donating your instruments, you no longer need, to schools or young people you know. They need to be encouraged. They need to know we all care. They need something to help keep then involved in their music.

I know I am telling my kids, that when I am gone, to donate them and all accessories that I have collected to a school orchestra if they, or their kids, are not interested in playing them. They need to be played.

I have two cellos that I will be contacting the school about next week. I have a good cello that is my absolute favorite and only play the other two to keep them played. We decided it would be best to just donate them, along with the bow and case. Unfortunately, I only have one of the endpin stops that have the strap that catches under the chair, so I can’t donate that. Maybe, I should order two of those and wait until I receive them before donating them. That is an idea. I think that is what I will do. These are good student cellos.

Please consider donating your loved unused instruments, rather than having them collect dust. A child will love you for it. And, your heart will be warmed. It is a win win.