Spring for Music

Just where do your old musical instruments go?

In Rochester, hundreds of donors have chosen to donate them to city school students through REF's Spring for Music program. The generosity of these donors has created great new opportunities for city students. Since the program's launch in 2005, more than 700 musical instruments have been donated.

Since 2008, REF has had a booth for collecting instruments at the Rochester International Jazz Festival, thanks to the generosity of M&T Bank.

Photo: Richard Margolis

Spring for Music was created because many students who wanted to play an instrument were not able to do so due to limited instruments available in city schools. Our initial goal in 2005 was to work with community partners to receive 250 used musical instruments, and the funds to fix them. By the time the campaign ended, we had received more than 400 instruments! We also received donations to clean and repair the instruments, and to purchase many new ones to be used by city school students. By the start of school, more than 250 instruments were ready to be lent to Rochester City School students through the school's instrumental music program.

We are pleased that we continue to receive instruments to be donated to Rochester City School District to be used by students. This means you can receive a tax deduction for a donated instrument and know that a city school student who might not have had the chance to play an instrument will discover the joy of music through your generosity.

To donate an instrument we encourage you to contact REF at 271-5790 or info@rochestereducation.org. We also welcome funds to support repairs, cleaning and purchase of new instruments for students, and general support of the Spring for Music program, as well as special events such as concerts to benefit the program.

We welcome the donation of pianos in good condition. The Department of the Arts will evaluate the piano.

Photo: Ken Huth

Many donated instruments include stories sent in notes and cards. One woman donated the flute she played for decades. "Though it has aged some and the surface is speckled, this flute still shines bright in my memory," she wrote. "Music has sustained my life in so many ways."

That sentiment has also been expressed by students who told us of their love of music, their devotion to practice and their eagerness to succeed in life. As one School 17 elementary school student wrote, "With your help, I will be successful playing the viola in a big concert one day."

Support the Program

Use the button at right to make a donation in support of REF and the Spring for Music program.