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Pennsylvania School 3D Prints Violins to Make Music More Accessible
A rural school district in Pennsylvania has recently announced a new project that utilizes 3D printing to transform music education for children. The school is now providing affordable 3D printed violins to students who would otherwise not have access to…
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A rural school district in Pennsylvania has recently announced a new project that utilizes 3D printing to transform music education for children. The school is now providing affordable 3D printed violins to students who would otherwise not have access to them. The project has shown great results and showcased how 3D printing can be used to expand access to musical education.
Dr. Laura Jacob is the superintendent of the California Area School District in Coal Center, and saw how expensive it is for families to rent instruments for the school’s music program. Oftentimes, the rental of instruments costs students hundreds of dollars per year. Over 70% of the school district’s students come from low-income households, and so Dr. Jacob sought to find a more sustainable and affordable solution.
She began experimenting with digital violin models on open-source file-sharing platforms for 3D printing after watching a YouTube video of musicians performing on 3D printed instruments. What began with two printers in her office has grown into a workshop of over thirty machines. Through trial and error, Dr. Jacob was able to find a design that not only printed successfully but also produced a strong and effective sound.
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