A school in the United States has started using 3D-printed violins to provide affordable instruments for low-income students.
The principal of a school in Pennsylvania has begun 3D printing violins in her office to reduce costs for families with students interested in playing instruments.
Dr. Laura Jacob has created violins worth $50 (approximately £36) and is giving them away for free to all students in the Pennsylvania Coal Center rural school district.
3D-printed violins. Image source: California District School
Jacob was inspired by a video from the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, which had experimented with 3D-printed instruments. She decided to take action to bring music to children who might not be able to afford music lessons.
“I started tinkering. I found some models online,” Jacob told CBS News. “I’m neither a computer scientist nor an engineer, but after various failures, I finally found a model that could be printed and sounded good. It’s a great start for the kids.”
Jacob currently has 30 3D printers in her office. “We really started out very modestly, with just two,” she said.
Over the past five years, Jacob has 3D printed over 200 violins, and she now teaches a 3D printing violin club weekly, where students not only learn to play the violin but also learn 3D printing technology.
“The moment you see them smile like that, that smile comes when they start playing, when they create that sound themselves,” Jacob said.
3D-printed violins. Image source: California District School
Student Leyla Knox, part of the project, stated that being a member of the club “makes me feel empowered because it’s a big group, and we can do this together.”
She added, “It has made me more confident in school than I was before.”
Another student, Evie Dentino, said, “I think this will make you a better student because if I can play the violin, I can do anything.”
Jacob hopes the project will help students develop a lifelong love for music, saying, “If they can stick with it, then for me, it’s worth it.”
