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Project MusiCrap: Recycled musical instruments for kids

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Updates (4)

Hi all,

Project MusiCrap: Kid friendly, planet friendly and pocket friendly musical instruments!

Summary -

Project MusiCrap aims to make recycled and affordable musical instruments of good quality available to kids and youth, especially those from disadvantaged communities, so that they can access the healing power of music.

In phase 1 of this project, ( which we are raising funds for) we will research and prototype these recycled musical instruments. We have partnered with musicians and musical instrument makers for this. These instruments will be ergonomically designed for use by kids, and beginner musicians. So they’ll be easy to learn and play.

They will also be vegan, so no animal hide.

In phase 2, we will convert this into a sustainable business.

About Me
My name is Gautam Jain. I have spent more than a decade working with different non-profits, leading projects in areas like micro-finance, vocational training, digital empowerment, organic farming etc. I have also learned rhythm and drum circle facilitation and therapeutic clowning.

The Beneficiaries
We have been working with vulnerable children and youth. Many of these kids have painful pasts and have lived a hard life.

They need access to services that help them process the difficult emotions that come from painful (traumatic) pasts, and a tough life. Therapies that help provide relief and release.

What we’ve been upto
Around the world, music (/ rhythm) therapy and sound healing have been used very effectively in helping kids (and adults) deal with anxiety, depression and aggression.

We too have experienced positive feedback using music (/rhythm) therapy and sound healing with at-risk kids and youth.

The BIG Challenge
However, to be able to have long term impact, we need to be able to create community music libraries, so that these kids (/youth) can access the healing power of music, whenever they need to.

The biggest challenge we currently face is that musical instruments are very expensive, and as such, it is not sustainable and scalable to keep raising funds and investing in these instruments.

We also find that most instruments available in the market today, are not ergonomically designed for use by children and beginner musicians, or for use in therapy. They are mostly designed by adults, for adults.

What we plan to do
Our fellow musicians and instrument makers have volunteered to help us conduct R&D, and design and prototypes of different kinds of musical instruments -

Who gives a crap? We do...

Unfortunately, Crap is everywhere, especially, in third world countries. And poverty and suffering are also widespread

In a world plagued with poverty, hunger, disease and suffering, the last thing a parent can afford, is to buy their child a musical instrument.

The instruments we develop, will be free (/affordable) to build and play. So that no child anywhere, is deprived of the healing power of music making.

From urban slums to rural villages, and from street children to refugee colonies, the trash can be transformed into beautiful sounding musical instruments.

Once our prototypes are ready and tested, we will subsequently conduct workshops to teach kids / youth in different communities to make their own instruments.

Cost Estimate (Break-up)

Particulars	Cost (Rs)
Tools, Equipment & Materials	2,35,000
Researchers / Volunteers Fees	2,15,000
Boarding, Lodging & Travel	1,10,000
Miscellaneous	75,000
Platform Fees and Taxes (appx)	75,000
Grand Total	7,10,000

Please expect complete financial transparency from us. All actual expenses will be routinely updated on our website, so that you can know how your contributions are being utilised.

Do you give a crap? (We sure hope you do...)

We are open to all kinds of monetary and non-monetary support.

If you are a musician, music teacher, music therapist or an instrument maker, and if you wish to be more involved, then please reach out to us.

If you wish to stay updated, and be part of our mailing list, then please reach out to us.

Please donate, share and support us in spreading the music

Also visit :www.humm-drum.com for more info on us!

Details for direct bank transfer / UPI payments

Bank Account details: Click here

Ask for an update

1st May 2019

Dear All,

Our online campaign has come to an end.

Thank you so much for your love, support and contributions. We are truly grateful.

While we only managed to raise a fraction of our target, we are still very pleased.

We have been able to create prototypes of cow-a-bella. We also have just enough funds, that with the help of our new knowledge partner Makers Adda (Nagpur), we shall be able to continue R&D and prototype a few more instruments in the coming weeks.

Link to Detailed Daily Expenses

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gbp3jH9ZTurIV24sT_-1Tr96y2WK8XTaGrbIaVCR7D4/edit?usp=drivesdk

Please contact us for further clarifications.

Thanks. Love.

23rd April 2019

Dear All,

Thank you all for the love and support.

Here's a break-up of costs incurred so far, in prototyping cow-a-bella.

Expenses	Rs
Travel	7928
Food and Stay	5128
Bells	7800
Woodwork artisans	5600
Powertools Workshop	3500
Facebook Ads	3660
Total	33,616

I can share an excel file, of detailed daily expenses incurred so far, on request.

I also have bills for certain relevant expenses, which I can share on request.

I am sorry, but in rural India, sometimes one can't get invoices, and at other times has to manage with 'kaccha' bills (cash memos)..

To all our donors and supporters, please do reach out to us for more detailed accounts or for clarifications.

Thanks. Love. Ever Grateful.

21st April 2019

Dear Supporters,

Project MusiCrap Update:
A big ‘Thank You’ to all existing supporters and donors. We are deeply grateful.
Using the money, we’ve raised so far, we’ve travelled to rural India, worked with local artisans and co-created, ‘Cow-a-bella’

About Cow-a-bella
Cow-a-bella can be used in sound healing and can be played as a musical instrument.
Cow-a-bella, as the name suggests, is made using cowbells. The bells are handmade, using scrap metal, and the wood has been re-purposed, and was once part of a table.
Since, She is a very intuitive and easy to play instrument, She makes a great first instrument for a child or a beginner musician.
Playing and listening to this instrument, helps promote stress release and relaxation and is also a lot of fun.

Plea for Help
We wish to prototype and eventually produce a whole range of musical instruments that are easy to play, and affordable.
Unfortunately, we’ve only reached a fraction of our target. We really believe in the power of community and the power of the crowd. Please contribute whatever you feel comfortable with, and please share this video and campaign and help spread the word.

Thanks. Love.