Well, here's an idea that could work in other places.

The Blue Skies Community Fiddle Orchestra, which I play with when I can find the time, gets instruments from an instrument bank founded by Blue Skies In the Community. This is the charitable offshoot of a very successful local folk festival. They accept donations of instruments, which are renovated by festival host/worldclass luthier Oskar Graf, and loaned to young musicians in the community who need an instrument to learn on.

What a great idea, eh?

The pre-existing condition that makes all this possible is not exactly a whim, though. Just happens that we have a festival which sells out every year, has nearly 30 years history, and has a social conscience that suggests giving back something to the local community that plays host to the festival for three days a year. And we have Oskar to glue the donated instruments back together...and Carolyn Stewart to organize and direct the fiddle orchestra and other projects.

Still, it's a model others could emulate. There are unplayed instruments in closets everywhere....and people who would like to play them

fuck eBay, sez I.

W-O