Provide 50 Instruments for Under-Served Children

Since our last report, Can'd Aid has completed five separate instrument donations to organizations in four states, totaling 121 instruments. In January, Can'd Aid donated four guitar, cases, capos and tuners to Shiloh House in Colorado, an organization that serves at-risk youth and their families, providing services and helping them overcome trauma. Accompanying this donation was a series of lessons from drummer Tyler Thompson, of nationally touring band Fruition. Months later, teacher Molly Morgan reported that "programs like this are extremely meaningful to [our youth] and they are still talking about it."

Also in January, TUNES Ambassadors Bevin Foley of Americana band Trout Steak Revival and Abby Bryant of Abby Bryant and the Echoes started a round of virtual violin and keyboard lessons respectively. Foley was continuing a second round of lessons with the same group of students from Central Music Academy in Lexington, KY and Bryant launched a new set of lessons with students for 11 students with brand new donated keyboards at Music Education & Performing Artists Association (MEPAA) in Eugene, OR. 

In March, Can'd donated a variety of percussion instruments to Central Music Academy in Lexington, KY, with plans to offer a series of lessons with drummer Mike Ashworth of Grammy-winning bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers in summer. A wide range of drums, guitars, microphones and thumb pianos were donated to Boys & Girls Club of Weld County in Colorado to help launch their new digital music program for at-risk teens. In honor of International Women's Day, nine complete violin setups were donated to MEPAA, an organization that "creates encouraging, positive spaces for artistic expression for women and youth artists, and fosters mentor relationships between developing and established artists." The violin donations were direct-to-student, and accompanied by a series of five personalized virtual lessons with Bevin Foley. These lessons aim to increase confidence, inspire and empower the female students by fostering a relationship with a professional female musician. Three lessons in, and Executive Director, Matrisha Armitage, reports that all students are doing great, remaining focused and dedicated regardless of the non-traditional lesson format. 

An additional set of lessons are currently in progress in Austin, TX for teens at Kids in a New Groove, an organization dedicated to "empowering youth in foster care to transform their futures through music mentorship." Complete guitar setups including guitars, tuners, books and gig bags were donated to five students, and Sam Wharton, of bluegrass band Songs from the Road Band is teaching students the basics and imparting his knowledge and wisdom to the next generation of musicians. As Covid restrictions continue to lift in schools nationwide, we are looking forward to drawing from the knowledge gained from virtual lessons and direct-to-student donations to make more meaningful and impactful donations and assemblies in our more traditional in-person format.

Thank you to all who have donated and continue to support Can'd Aid's MUSIC + ARTS program! As TUNES Ambassador Sam Wharton puts it - "music will change your life if you let it."

Alyssa Lile
Program + Outreach Manager
Can'd Aid