Sharon Elliott
Dec-15-2008, 6:34pm
Mandolins for Kids-Thank You from the California Bluegrass Association
On behalf of the California Bluegrass Association and the Kids on Bluegrass Darrell Johnston Kids Instrument Lending Library, I would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Scott Tichenor and the Mandolin Café for sponsoring the Mandolin for Kids benefit this past week. We would also like to say an equally big THANK YOU to all of the very generous people that donated mandolins and financial donations to this project!! Wow! Talk about Christmas giving! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
The California Bluegrass Association has two very popular kids programs, The Kids on Bluegrass and the Kids Instrument Lending Library. Although different programs, both programs benefit from the other by supplying kids with instruments (the Lending Library) and providing the kids with a place to perform at our festivals (The Kids on Bluegrass)
About four years ago, the Darrell Johnston Kids Instrument Lending Library was just an idea that our then CBA treasurer Darrell Johnston had when he heard about a little girl that needed a fiddle. This young girl’s older sister already played guitar and the family was new to bluegrass. Seeing the potential for all four kids playing music Darrell thought about creating a kids instrument lending library that would provide children with instruments when they might not be able to afford one, let alone four! Without telling anyone, Darrell purchased a fiddle and gave it to the little girl and on that same weekend his idea began to grow. Unfortunately, before it became a reality, Darrell suddenly died of a massive heart attack. With the CBA’s blessing we started the Darrell Johnston Kids Instrument Lending Library and today we have about 50 instruments loaned out and that little girl has become one incredible fiddle player that plays in her family band with all four incredible kids playing four different instruments and their parents. There are many kids that we are very proud of that has taken part in both of these programs.
(See www.kidsonbluegrass.com)
This program has touched many kids and families. The idea is that we accept donated bluegrass instruments, we have luthiers that generously donate their time to restore and make repairs to the instruments and then we “loan” them to children between the ages of 3 to 18. There are certain easy requirements that the children and families must follow such as if the child does not use the instrument it must be returned to the CBA to be “loaned “ out to another child. If a child grows, or requires a better instrument they simply exchange it. Another aspect of this program is that a child and family can actually borrow an instrument to see if the child will stick with it before deciding to buy one.
Although I receive many good instruments, really good quality mandolins are harder to come by and many of our kids have become so proficient at playing and performing we really want to be able to provide a higher quality of instrument.
So once again, we would like to say thank you so very much for your generosity Steve Tichenor and all of the wonderful people who donated mandolins and financial donations to not only our program but also to the Cool Mandolins for Kids program run by Laura Leder. Although these two programs are a bit different, the whole idea is to put instruments into the hearts and hands of children and hopefully groups all over the country will begin to create more programs like this for children.
Thank You All,
Sharon & Steve Elliott
California Bluegrass Association
Darrell Johnston Kids Instrument Lending Library
Kids on Bluegrass
On behalf of the California Bluegrass Association and the Kids on Bluegrass Darrell Johnston Kids Instrument Lending Library, I would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Scott Tichenor and the Mandolin Café for sponsoring the Mandolin for Kids benefit this past week. We would also like to say an equally big THANK YOU to all of the very generous people that donated mandolins and financial donations to this project!! Wow! Talk about Christmas giving! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
The California Bluegrass Association has two very popular kids programs, The Kids on Bluegrass and the Kids Instrument Lending Library. Although different programs, both programs benefit from the other by supplying kids with instruments (the Lending Library) and providing the kids with a place to perform at our festivals (The Kids on Bluegrass)
About four years ago, the Darrell Johnston Kids Instrument Lending Library was just an idea that our then CBA treasurer Darrell Johnston had when he heard about a little girl that needed a fiddle. This young girl’s older sister already played guitar and the family was new to bluegrass. Seeing the potential for all four kids playing music Darrell thought about creating a kids instrument lending library that would provide children with instruments when they might not be able to afford one, let alone four! Without telling anyone, Darrell purchased a fiddle and gave it to the little girl and on that same weekend his idea began to grow. Unfortunately, before it became a reality, Darrell suddenly died of a massive heart attack. With the CBA’s blessing we started the Darrell Johnston Kids Instrument Lending Library and today we have about 50 instruments loaned out and that little girl has become one incredible fiddle player that plays in her family band with all four incredible kids playing four different instruments and their parents. There are many kids that we are very proud of that has taken part in both of these programs.
(See www.kidsonbluegrass.com)
This program has touched many kids and families. The idea is that we accept donated bluegrass instruments, we have luthiers that generously donate their time to restore and make repairs to the instruments and then we “loan” them to children between the ages of 3 to 18. There are certain easy requirements that the children and families must follow such as if the child does not use the instrument it must be returned to the CBA to be “loaned “ out to another child. If a child grows, or requires a better instrument they simply exchange it. Another aspect of this program is that a child and family can actually borrow an instrument to see if the child will stick with it before deciding to buy one.
Although I receive many good instruments, really good quality mandolins are harder to come by and many of our kids have become so proficient at playing and performing we really want to be able to provide a higher quality of instrument.
So once again, we would like to say thank you so very much for your generosity Steve Tichenor and all of the wonderful people who donated mandolins and financial donations to not only our program but also to the Cool Mandolins for Kids program run by Laura Leder. Although these two programs are a bit different, the whole idea is to put instruments into the hearts and hands of children and hopefully groups all over the country will begin to create more programs like this for children.
Thank You All,
Sharon & Steve Elliott
California Bluegrass Association
Darrell Johnston Kids Instrument Lending Library
Kids on Bluegrass