Frequently Asked Questions
Free musical instruments, performances, tutoring and volunteering — how each one works, who it's for, and what happens after you get in touch. We serve families within about 100 miles of Philadelphia to start with — the suburbs, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and northern Maryland.
Getting a free instrument
How do I get a free instrument for my child?
Fill out our instrument application and tell us a bit about who wants to play. We'll email you as soon as it reaches us, including a short note you can pass to a teacher or counselor who can vouch for the student — that's the one step we need before we can match an instrument. Plan on at least one to two months overall, and we'll keep you posted the whole way, including if we haven't found a match yet.
Who can apply for a free instrument?
Any family within about 100 miles of Philadelphia — that covers the Philadelphia suburbs, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and northern Maryland. There's no application fee and no cost at any point — if we find an instrument for you, it's yours to play. We ask about your situation on the form so we can understand where the need is greatest, not to screen anyone out. Further away? Write to us anyway and we'll help where we can.
Where do you deliver? Within about 100 miles of Philadelphia
That's the area we work in to start with — the Philadelphia suburbs, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and northern Maryland. As Pass the Chord grows, we'll expand to other parts of the country. If you're outside the area, email us and we'll do what we can.
Do I need a teacher or counselor to vouch for my request?
Yes. Before we hand an instrument over, we ask a trusted adult who knows the student to write a short paragraph confirming the student needs it and will use it — a band director, music teacher, school counselor, social worker, pastor or case manager can all do this. A music teacher can also confirm the instrument matches what the student is actually playing in class, which helps us send the right one.
Put their name, organization and a phone number at that organization — a school, church or agency line rather than a personal mobile — in the last box of the request form, or ask them to email their note straight to [email protected]. Nothing needs to be ready when you apply — once your request arrives we'll email you about it, with a note you can pass straight on to them.
How long does a request take?
Plan on at least one to two months. We don't keep a warehouse of instruments waiting — when your request comes in, we start looking for the right instrument for you, and sourcing one takes time. We'd rather tell you that up front than leave you guessing.
What if you can't find the instrument I asked for?
We'll tell you. We'll keep you updated on where things stand, including when the answer is that we haven't found a match yet. We can't guarantee an instrument — what we can promise is that we'll keep looking and we'll be straight with you about it. That's why the form asks for a second choice: it gives us more ways to help you.
Are the instruments new or used?
Either. Depending on what we can find for you, an instrument may be donated and refurbished to playable condition, or bought new. What matters to us is that it's the right instrument and that it plays properly when it reaches you.
What instruments can I ask for?
Strings (violin, viola, cello, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, ukulele), woodwinds (flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, recorder), trombone, keyboard, and drum kit. If what you need isn't on the list, choose "Other" on the form and tell us — we'll see what we can do.
The one thing we can't provide is an acoustic or upright piano — moving one needs professional movers, which is beyond us for now. A digital keyboard does the same job for a learner and we can actually get it to you.
Is it really free?
Yes. Every one of our programs is free, and all of them are run by student volunteers. There is no cost to apply, no cost to receive an instrument, and nothing to pay back.
Tutoring, mentoring and performances
Can my child get tutoring or a mentor?
Yes, and it's free. We pair students with mentors for music guidance and tutoring, run by our student volunteers. You don't need to have asked us for an instrument first. There's no form for this one yet — email us at [email protected], tell us about the student and what they'd like help with, and we'll take it from there.
Can we come to a performance? Can my child play in one?
Both. Our performances are free to attend and open to anyone — what's coming up is listed on our performances page. Young musicians are welcome to play as well, and that page is where to sign up when a spot opens.
Donating an instrument or volunteering
Where can I donate an old musical instrument?
Tell us about it on our instrument donation form and we'll arrange a pickup or drop-off. We collect within about 100 miles of Philadelphia. We can take almost anything except an acoustic or upright piano — those need professional movers.
What condition does the instrument need to be in?
Almost any condition. Working, broken, missing strings, in an attic since the nineties — we'll look at anything. Restoring donated instruments is the whole point of what we do, so an instrument you'd write off as unusable is often exactly what we're looking for. Occasionally something is too far gone to restore, and we'll tell you if that's the case.
Can I volunteer?
Yes, and we'd love the help. Volunteers perform at community events, help run fundraisers and donation drives, tutor younger students, and help build the free lessons, sheet music and video tutorials we'll be publishing on the site.
Can I earn volunteer hours?
Yes. Volunteers earn verified volunteer hours you can put on a school or college application.
Leadership roles are all filled at the moment, so that application is closed. To be considered when one opens, email [email protected] with a little about yourself — we'll come back to you first.
About Pass the Chord
Who runs Pass the Chord?
We're student-led. Pass the Chord was founded in 2026 by Liz Chacko, and the team is made up of student volunteers who play, teach, and care about music. You can read more on our about page.
Are you a new organization?
Yes — we started in 2026 and we're still in our first year. We're honest about that: you can follow what we collect and who we reach on our progress log.
Are donations tax-deductible?
Not yet. Pass the Chord is not currently a registered 501(c)(3), so gifts are not tax-deductible and we can't issue tax receipts. We're working toward that status and we'll update this page as soon as it changes. See our terms for the full detail.
How big is Pass the Chord?
We're brand new, and we're deliberately keeping our goals modest — a realistic target each year rather than promising more than a volunteer team can deliver well. We'd rather do right by every family we work with than overpromise and let people down.
What do you do with the information I send you?
We use it to handle your request and nothing else. We never sell it and we never share it outside Pass the Chord. That includes the details of the adult who vouches for a student — we contact them to confirm the request, and that's the end of it. Our privacy policy has the full detail.
How do I contact Pass the Chord?
Email us at [email protected] — we read everything.