The not-for-profit Youth Music Preservation and Promotion Association is collecting a variety of musical instruments throughout December to help provide low-cost music instruction for children.
The Leesburg-based organization, which aims to use music for social improvement and cultural enrichment, began collecting instruments last December for its Society Youth Orchestra and has collected nearly two dozen instruments so far, said Gabriela Bohnett, Youth Music’s president.
"We have an outreach program that we’ve been running for almost a year now," said Bohnett. "It’s something to offer children affordable and even free music instruction."
There are a number of ways to help the effort.
"The program is a very extensive program," Bohnett said.
Youth Music encourages the members of the community to help by donating music equipment, making a financial donation or volunteering to work on the staff or teach in the program. Such donations are also tax deductible.
Over the last week, the organization has received a cello, a violin, two flutes, two clarinets, a piano and a metronome.
"Many of our students cannot afford instruments so we want to be able to offer the students the instruments on loan," Bohnett said, who continued to say the drive will help the orchestra going into next year. "It seems like January is going to be a wonderful year for our orchestra."
According to a recent press release, Youth Music was modeled after the Venezuelan System of Youth Orchestras in that it uses music to enact positive social change.
For information on the organization and how to donate, e-mail Youth Music at info@ymppa.org or visit www.ymppa.org.