Instrument Lending Program
The Big Bend Bluegrass Association (BBBA) is a licensed affiliate of the Play It Forward!® Instrument Lending Program, which was created by the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation (BHF). BBBA works with bluegrass musicians and music teachers to foster music literacy and performance skills in deserving young people (ages 8-21) by providing no-cost access to the primary bluegrass musical instruments such as mandolins, fiddles, banjos, and guitars.
As part of the Play It Forward! Program, BBBA works with bluegrass clubs and associations to find musicians and music teachers who are willing to become a bluegrass mentor for those young people who seek to borrow instruments under the program.
The Play It Forward! Program policies are similar to those of your public library:
- Young people will be required to complete an application process that includes providing valid identification and a parental permission form
- The estimated value of the instrument will be stated in an agreement that encourages responsibility for the instrument by the borrower.
- Students will be asked to send a thank-you note to the instrument’s donor (if applicable) and to BBBA.
In addition, borrowers will be asked to secure a bluegrass mentor in their area who will assist them in learning the basics of their chosen instrument and the etiquette of playing with others in a disciplined musical environment.
Because maintaining instruments is necessary to keeping them easy and fun to play (and to keeping them viable for many years), BBBA will maintain a fund for the maintenance and upkeep of the Play It Forward! Program instruments. BBBA will coordinate with the borrowers, and with the sponsoring bluegrass mentor, to make sure that the instruments are properly cared for over time.
Loan periods will be for one year, with annual renewals encouraged following an inspection of the instrument by the borrower’s sponsor or music teacher or BBBA. When the borrower is ready to acquire an instrument of their own, they must return the borrowed instrument to BBBA so that the instrument, and the opportunity to learn, can be “played forward” to another young person.
You can participate in this program by donating cash or bluegrass musical instruments to the program. BBBA will make sure that donated instruments are in good working order before they are offered for use by a young person. Donors will receive a receipt for their donation and the assurance that their donation will benefit a deserving young person.
For more information or if you would like to make a donation, please contact BBBA at bigbendbluegrasstx@gmail.com or (432) 238-6850. BBBA is a non-profit organization, run by volunteers, and all donations are greatly appreciated.
