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Youth Cigar Box Program

Hey everybody, I recently moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa from West Virginia to take a job with Americorp.

Right now I am working with a non-profit organization in poorer part of the city that was drastically effected by the flood in 2008. A major part of the organization is centered on youth workshops and programs.

After my first build I was hooked on homemade instruments and I am now looking to spread that passion to the younger generation of this community. Right now I am trying to find grants that will help me start a series of workshops where kids can build their own homemade instruments starting from a basic Diddley Bo and work up to a Cigar Box Guitar.

If you all have any information that would be useful to my efforts please let me know.

You can also email me at jared@hub25.org

Thanks and keep on pickin' and grinnin'

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on September 27, 2011 at 12:40pm

Do you know about DonorsChoose.org? You post up your program and individual donors can contribute small amounts until you have your pile of cash to start.

Since you are working for a non-profit, that will help folks who feel inspired to give to get a tax break, too!

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on September 27, 2011 at 9:26pm

Jared,

How well publicized is your program? Grants can be financial, or they can be in-kind. Try contacting the local Lowe's and / or Home Depot in CR, to see if they will donate cash or materials ( wood for necks, screws for nuts and bridges, soundboards, etc.). Contact the local Guitar Center (I know there's one in Cedar Rapids) for either cash, publicity (they have message boards in-store for Musicians Wanted, etc.) , or parts such as tuners, strings, bridge material, used necks, broken gits that can be stripped for parts, etc. Contact local music / guitar repair stores for same. Contact the local media (print, radio, TV) for publicity - find a suitable "poster child" amongst the kids you are working with - no, I'm not being cynical, this is actually quite important for a local human interest story. Contact Bob Sperzel at Sperzel Tuners in Cleveland, OH (www.sperzel.com) to see if they could donate cash or materials. Search here on CBN for builders / musicians in CR (go to the Community tab above, then select Members Map from the pull-down), and within a 300 mile radius.

Maybe you've done all this already, but I'm just thinking off the top of my head here.

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on September 28, 2011 at 6:23am

I get guitar tuners and strings from a guitar company here in the UK..they import guitars from China, upgrade the tuners and strings..and dispose of all the redundant (but brand new) tuners and strings. This really helps keep costs down..I manage to produce a complete guitar kit for school projects for about $10.00 including a piezo pickup!!

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Permalink Reply by Wade on September 28, 2011 at 1:59pm

diddley bows are a lot of fun to build with kids. Add an empty altoids(try the chocolate and peppermint ones! they taste great) or even better add an empty energy drink can to the build and students really get into it. I have also found that ukes are a popular item with kids.I've made several with my HS students using reclaimed wood, skewer frets and other found parts. less wood is required on a uke because of the shorter scale and also less tension than a cbg. Tuning is also a little more standard for them and no need for a slide. Almost every student could pick out a little tune within 15 or 20 minutes of playing! And like us- many did'nt stop at building one!

Wade