A Rare Free Service For Students

Thanks to a documentary about this rare service which received an Oscar, students are able to learn music. The documentary is ‘The Last Repair Shop’. When few such shops exist any more for any reason, it stands out.

So now many know this secret and it has benefited teachers and students alike. The whole premise is different since the instruments are owned by the shop and rented out to these low-income students.

A teacher now knows there is a place to go to help in teaching his or her pupils the joy of playing an instrument. And when these implements are damaged or no longer needed, they have a home.

The number of musical instruments is quite extensive. Currently that amounts to 120,000 pieces which can be found all through the district. And the shop has been around offering such services since 1959 in the major city area of LA.

The shop is funded by the public and is housed in a warehouse -like structure filled with work stations and piles of needy musical structures. Well-qualified specialists busy themselves working on the piece that requires their attention.

Money is tight so there are a limited number of repair members. But that is about to change since just recently a well-known musical legend has come forward and offered a large donation.

That figure is Herb Alpert and he felt moved to give $1 million dollars. No doubt this was motivated by his early years when as a student, he too learned to play in this same area in LA.

Alpert was a shy boy and music helped him to come out of his shell and to shine. Hopefully this story will uplift you too. You just never know where inspiration will come from. And we should appreciate few such offerings are there to help young kids. This particular one is becoming a blessing that helps many.