Part of Arts & Music for Every Student initiative, TUNING TOMORROW: The Campaign for the Last Repair Shop invests in our nationally recognized instrument repair program and the people and place that keep music in LAUSD Classrooms. Inspired by the Academy Award–winning documentary The Last Repair Shop.
Los Angeles is home to over 440,000 public school students who play over 130,000, provided to them and maintained for free by LAUSD. Since 1959, these instruments have been repaired at no charge to students at a central workshop—The Repair Shop—the last of its kind in the nation. Once a widespread service in the U.S., this essential resource for students has diminished. Today, its continued viability is at risk.
A core group of passionate staff meticulously mends each instrument with love and care, assuring that all young musicians in the District—regardless of socioeconomic status or talent—are able to make music. As one of the only, and largest, facilities dedicated to free and freely repaired musical instruments, this shop and the essential service it provides to to L.A.’s young people is a legacy worth preserving.
The Campaign
To secure the future of The Repair Shop and expand its capacity to serve LAUSD students, we have set an ambitious goal of $15M to support the work for years to come. By investing in modest but critical capital upgrades and training skilled technicians, we are enhancing the physical space and capabilities of the shop, and building a sustainable future for music education in the District.
These funds focus on the following primary initiatives:
The Apprenticeship Program: Establish a visionary apprenticeship program to train the next generation of technicians
Sustaining the Core Staff: Allow them to lead and mentor, creating a legacy for years to come.
Revitalizing The Repair Shop: Upgrading Facilities, Equipment and Operations
Instruments in Hands: Expedite donated instrument refurbishment and get them to students who need them most
Watch the Documentary
The Academy Award–winning documentary short The Last Repair Shop, directed by Kris Bowers and Ben Proudfoot, follows the master artisans who keep LAUSD’s student musicians playing and instruments in tune—alongside the students whose voices bring the music to life. Together, they tell a moving story of dedication and the transformative power of music education in Los Angeles.
LAUSD Education Foundation Launches $15 Million ‘Last Repair Shop Fund’ Inspired by Oscar-Nominated Doc
The Academy Award-nominated short documentary, 'The Last Repair Shop', which turned the spotlight on Los Angeles Unified School District’s Musical Instrument Repair Shop, inspires the LAUSD Education Foundation to launch a $15M campaign.
‘Last Repair Shop’ for LAUSD musicians gets $1-million gift, plus a visit from Yo-Yo Ma
The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation gives $1 million to safeguard the future of an LAUSD program providing free, repaired music instruments.
Join the symphony of support.
The Repair Shop ensures that we meet LAUSD student’s needs by providing free and freely repaired instruments to all young learners. Always. Together, we can create opportunities for our city’s young musicians to thrive.
