By Gerda Peachey. Do you have a dusty old guitar waiting for inspiration? Why not donate it to a prison music program?
For the past month I have had the privilege of teaching beginner guitar to some women at Fraser Valley Institution. Actually I am no whiz on the guitar, have no music degree and keep to pretty simple chords but over the years I have been able to open the door and introduce people to the ease and pleasure of playing this versatile instrument. Four women came to the guitar group I have hosted and at least two of them will be able to soar musically. It has been the greatest joy I’ve felt since I first went there when FVI came to Abbotsford.
The dilemma is this: There are other women who would like to learn guitar and while I would love to introduce many more of them to the balm that music brings to our lives, the institution only has 3 guitars, If I start teaching a second lot of women, the first lot would have to give up or share the 3 guitars. I have opened the door for these women, and the sky is the limit as to where they go with music now. They must have those guitars in their hands any time they want to sing or play a tune, otherwise the skill and interest they have now will die out.
If you have a good guitar taking up closet space, please consider allowing me to pass it on to the prison music program. While a tax deductable receipt is not a possibility, the staff will write you a specific thank you letter to acknowledge your kindness. Due to limited storage, they can only accept 3 guitars right now.