Instruments Collected for City Schools ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - A group that collects used musical instruments and gives them to students in the City Schools is asking visitors to this summer's Rochester International Jazz Festival to consider making a donation.

The Rochester Education Foundation will have a tent up on Gibbs Street during the festival which begins on Friday. The group is working with M-and-T Bank to keep it manned during the eight-day festival.

Pat Braus of the foundation says it's collected and fixed up more than 500 instruments for city children since 2005.

Braus says lots of the used instruments are gathering dust in attics and closets. Many are donated by people whose parents used to play them. Some come from people who played in high school but moved on to other things.

Braus says most can be put back into shape and go to a city elementary school student who wouldn't otherwise get the opportunity.

The Education Foundation tent will be on Gibbs Street between East and Main during the festival. City School District music teachers and administrators will be among those staffing it.

If you're not going to the jazz fest but do want to donate an instrument or money to the "Spring for Music" program, contact REF at 271-5790. Braus says the school district will even come and pick up donated pianos -- if they pass muster.

And of course, people who donate instruments may be eligible for tax deductions.
© Copyright 2009, WXXI