May 8, 2025 • 5 mins
Today we shine a light on the people making powerful change in their communities—through creativity, compassion, and a whole lot of heart. We’re turning up the volume on a story that hits all the right notes.
KFI's Heather Brooker spoke with Brandon Jay, founder of Altadena Musicians and Instrumental Giving—a grassroots organization that’s not only amplifying local talent, but also putting real instruments into the hands of kids who need them most. From school band rooms to living room jam sessions, Brandon is building a movement that’s about more than music—it’s about equity, access, and empowering the next generation of creators. Get ready for an inspiring conversation on the power of giving, the healing force of music, and what it really means to invest in your community.
KFI's Heather Brooker spoke with Brandon Jay, founder of Altadena Musicians and Instrumental Giving—a grassroots organization that’s not only amplifying local talent, but also putting real instruments into the hands of kids who need them most. From school band rooms to living room jam sessions, Brandon is building a movement that’s about more than music—it’s about equity, access, and empowering the next generation of creators. Get ready for an inspiring conversation on the power of giving, the healing force of music, and what it really means to invest in your community.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right now, I want to shine a light on some
people making a powerful difference after the January wildfires. We're
turning up the volume, so to speak, on a story
that has hit all the right notes. Man, I love
a good pun. We're joined by Brandon j the founder
of Altadena Musicians and the Instrumental Giving app. It's a
grassroots organization that not only amplifies local talent, but is
(00:22):
putting real instruments back into the hands of people who
lost them during the January wildfires. Brandon, tell me how
did this all begin?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
So, my wife and I are music composition names Gwendolyn Sandford.
Most notably we scored Orange is a New Black, and
we lived in Dana for thirteen years and our home
and studio burned in the fire. About a week afterwards,
we were both playing a show and people came and
started bringing us instruments and did a lot of them
(00:53):
were exact names that we lost in the fire, which
gave me the idea to like, just do that on
a big scale and ask people that had extra instruments
to connect with people that lost theirs. And the special
thing about instruments are the stories behind them and how
they're passed down from generation to generation, or they're used
on particular recordings, or someone saved that bought a guitar
(01:17):
when they were young, and so I've found it it's
really healing in the process for the people that are
donating to meet the musicians that lost stuff. So that's
the legacy of the instrument is carried on with the
person getting it, and the person that lost something gets
the story behind what they're getting, so they can mourn
(01:38):
what they lost, but it's replaced by something that already
has a story to it and you can continue that.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
And what has the response been like from the community.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
It's extraordinary. The you know, I grew up in Los
Angeles and so I've been playing music since i was nine.
Both my parents are musicians, so I've been in the
Los Angeles music scene for most of my life. And
incredible tight knit community and far reaching and the devastation
of these particular wildfires is so broad because so many
(02:10):
people are affected and all walks of life have you know,
it's just incredible the connections that people have made with
each other in the community when they reach out and
like help each other, and it's been it's been incredible.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
How many instruments have you had donated and then how
many have you passed out so far?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
It's hard to tell because the numbers are they're like
skyrocketing every day, but well over four hundred and counting.
We just about a week ago mister Holland's Opus Foundation,
the wonderful organization that provides instruments to schools when they
(02:56):
need and they like buy them like new instruments and
you know, get them sorted out. They took care of
like all the schools that were ready for them, because
there's about six schools that burned and just in Altadena,
and so they were taking care of them. They also
did an instrument drive and were collecting instruments from other
(03:16):
people that were supposed to go to fire victims, and
they had to give up their extra storage space where
everything was, and so we got in contact with them
and we said we'll take everything because we have the
infrastructure to get it to individuals. So just about three
days ago we took We're just cataloging everything to see
how much it is, because it was so much. It
(03:39):
was like over eighty five guitars and like a whole
room full of classical instruments. Somewhere in the neighborhood of
like like six hundred instruments.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
So right now we're like cleaning them with We have
about forty volunteers that are just coming from people that
we got instruments too, and they're like running over there
like testing out clarinets and clean things off. And we
also connected with Bertrans Music in Pasadena very early on
because it's important for people to know that, like there's
(04:11):
instruments that need servicing if they've been sitting around for
a long time, and we don't want to put instruments
in people's hands that need work.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
I think that's great. I mean it sounds like people
are This is something that people are truly passionate about
and they really want to help. You know, when it
comes to your instruments. You know, my daughter plays the trombone,
and I know she loves it and she enjoys it,
and it's very special to her because it's the first
instrument she really learned how to play. And I know
that even in some you know, even if it seems
(04:39):
like such a small thing to give someone an instrument
to start over, in that way, it means so much
to the person who's playing because music is therapy and
it can be very healing in many ways. So I
think it's wonderful what you're doing. Can you tell everybody
how they can help? If you still need instruments, are
you still taking them? How can people help and support
(04:59):
what you're doing?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
So either going to Altadena Musicians dot org, make a donation,
can read about us, come to upcoming events, or download
our app Instrumental Giving.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
That's such a great addition to the instruments and a
way to help also make money for your organization and
that sort of thing. So Brandon, thank you so much
for your time. You can check out Instrumental Giving or
Altadena Musicians to find out how you can help bring
music back to Alta. Dina, I'm Heatherbrooker, thanks so much
(05:30):
for listening. You can listen to any of our shows
from KFI on the iHeartRadio app.
Right now, I want to shine a light on some
people making a powerful difference after the January wildfires. We're
turning up the volume, so to speak, on a story
that has hit all the right notes. Man, I love
a good pun. We're joined by Brandon j the founder
of Altadena Musicians and the Instrumental Giving app. It's a
grassroots organization that not only amplifies local talent, but is
(00:22):
putting real instruments back into the hands of people who
lost them during the January wildfires. Brandon, tell me how
did this all begin?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
So, my wife and I are music composition names Gwendolyn Sandford.
Most notably we scored Orange is a New Black, and
we lived in Dana for thirteen years and our home
and studio burned in the fire. About a week afterwards,
we were both playing a show and people came and
started bringing us instruments and did a lot of them
(00:53):
were exact names that we lost in the fire, which
gave me the idea to like, just do that on
a big scale and ask people that had extra instruments
to connect with people that lost theirs. And the special
thing about instruments are the stories behind them and how
they're passed down from generation to generation, or they're used
on particular recordings, or someone saved that bought a guitar
(01:17):
when they were young, and so I've found it it's
really healing in the process for the people that are
donating to meet the musicians that lost stuff. So that's
the legacy of the instrument is carried on with the
person getting it, and the person that lost something gets
the story behind what they're getting, so they can mourn
(01:38):
what they lost, but it's replaced by something that already
has a story to it and you can continue that.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
And what has the response been like from the community.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
It's extraordinary. The you know, I grew up in Los
Angeles and so I've been playing music since i was nine.
Both my parents are musicians, so I've been in the
Los Angeles music scene for most of my life. And
incredible tight knit community and far reaching and the devastation
of these particular wildfires is so broad because so many
(02:10):
people are affected and all walks of life have you know,
it's just incredible the connections that people have made with
each other in the community when they reach out and
like help each other, and it's been it's been incredible.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
How many instruments have you had donated and then how
many have you passed out so far?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
It's hard to tell because the numbers are they're like
skyrocketing every day, but well over four hundred and counting.
We just about a week ago mister Holland's Opus Foundation,
the wonderful organization that provides instruments to schools when they
(02:56):
need and they like buy them like new instruments and
you know, get them sorted out. They took care of
like all the schools that were ready for them, because
there's about six schools that burned and just in Altadena,
and so they were taking care of them. They also
did an instrument drive and were collecting instruments from other
(03:16):
people that were supposed to go to fire victims, and
they had to give up their extra storage space where
everything was, and so we got in contact with them
and we said we'll take everything because we have the
infrastructure to get it to individuals. So just about three
days ago we took We're just cataloging everything to see
how much it is, because it was so much. It
(03:39):
was like over eighty five guitars and like a whole
room full of classical instruments. Somewhere in the neighborhood of
like like six hundred instruments.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
So right now we're like cleaning them with We have
about forty volunteers that are just coming from people that
we got instruments too, and they're like running over there
like testing out clarinets and clean things off. And we
also connected with Bertrans Music in Pasadena very early on
because it's important for people to know that, like there's
(04:11):
instruments that need servicing if they've been sitting around for
a long time, and we don't want to put instruments
in people's hands that need work.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
I think that's great. I mean it sounds like people
are This is something that people are truly passionate about
and they really want to help. You know, when it
comes to your instruments. You know, my daughter plays the trombone,
and I know she loves it and she enjoys it,
and it's very special to her because it's the first
instrument she really learned how to play. And I know
that even in some you know, even if it seems
(04:39):
like such a small thing to give someone an instrument
to start over, in that way, it means so much
to the person who's playing because music is therapy and
it can be very healing in many ways. So I
think it's wonderful what you're doing. Can you tell everybody
how they can help? If you still need instruments, are
you still taking them? How can people help and support
(04:59):
what you're doing?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
So either going to Altadena Musicians dot org, make a donation,
can read about us, come to upcoming events, or download
our app Instrumental Giving.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
That's such a great addition to the instruments and a
way to help also make money for your organization and
that sort of thing. So Brandon, thank you so much
for your time. You can check out Instrumental Giving or
Altadena Musicians to find out how you can help bring
music back to Alta. Dina, I'm Heatherbrooker, thanks so much
(05:30):
for listening. You can listen to any of our shows
from KFI on the iHeartRadio app.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.