Give the Gift of Music at Chicago Music Exchange!
After years of budget cuts to music education programs nationwide, the Gift of Music Foundation was founded in 2015 to make musical instruments and music education more accessible to kids, through reduced-price rentals and rent-free instrument programs. Typically, the foundation accepts instrument donations of any kind to generate a portion of the funds they use to support rental programs for families in need. But, sometimes, they get instruments donated by musicians—like the premium instruments available for purchase in the Gift of Music Foundation Vintage and Used Collection, now at Chicago Music Exchange.
“Our mission is to find the highest value for any instrument that’s donated as it relates to those kids—they’re our entire focus,” said the Gift of Music Foundation’s Tom Gibson. “For player-grade instrument donations, like the ones now at CME, our sales department sells donations and puts the revenue towards student band instruments, in order to fund supplemental rental programs where families that can’t afford full rentals get half-rentals, or gifted instruments.”
"Every $5K raised from these sales from the Gift of Music Collection will help provide at least 25 kids with instruments, while also helping fund up to 50 school year-long music classes and putting up to 100 students in summer programs!"
So, any instrument purchased from this collection of vintage and used instruments at CME will be an investment in the future of music—not only for the buyer of each instrument but for music students, too—that puts other instruments in the hands of the next generation of music makers!"
A “Game Changer”
“It’s very rare that we get a collection of premium instruments,” Gibson said. “Sometimes we get a keyboard that’s been sitting around, lots of drum sets, old clarinets, maybe a rusty flute—then, we have a world-class in-house repair shop that can fix any instrument, so they’ll get any instrument suitable for a student player ‘up to snuff.’ But, this collection is a total game changer for us.
“So, I called my friend Coy Bowles from the Zac Brown Band—he actually happens to be a former student of mine—since he’s really into guitars and a collector, himself, to say we’ve got this collection of guitars coming in. We were looking for someone that really knew what these things were, and what the value of these instruments might really be. He got back to me, and as it happens, he was on a beach somewhere on vacation with Andrew [Yonke, Chicago Music Exchange’s CEO]. From there, it happened fast! CME was incredible about jumping right in and helping out. Now—here we are!”
STAY TUNED IN FOR EVERYTHING FROM THE GIFT OF MUSIC COLLECTION!
Stay tuned for more updates! Subscribe to our email list at the bottom of this page, give us a chat on our website, or follow us on Instagram, our YouTube, and the Soundboard Blog for more on this one-of-a-kind collection. You will not want to miss the gear coming through this collection!
Check out the Gift of Music Collection, and learn how you can donate instruments to The Gift of Music Foundation, today!
SHOP GIFT OF MUSIC COLLECTION AT CME
Related Posts
Yamaha Guitars | 2025 Revstar Additions
Rev up your engines—the Yamaha Revstar Standard RSS20 and RSS02T have arrived at Chicago Music Exchange, bringing performance-minded design, expanded versatility, and unmistakable style to Yamaha’s modern electric guitar lineup. Inspired by the stripped-down efficiency of café racer motorcycles, the Revstar Standard series blends premium tonewoods, chambered bodies, carbon-reinforced necks, and upgraded electronics to deliver lightweight comfort and powerful sonic character. Whether you’re after the articulate punch of Alnico V humbuckers (RSS20) or the warm, expressive bite of P90-style pickups (RSS02T), each model offers refined playability and a dynamic tonal range perfect for stage, studio, and everyday inspiration. Shop the full Yamaha Revstar Standard collection at CME and discover the next evolution of Yamaha’s performance-built electric guitars.
Read more
Gibson x Loog Guitars at Chicago Music Exchange
Meet the Gibson x Loog Collection—where legendary tone meets beginner-friendly design. These three-string guitars are made to empower kids to start playing right away, with simplified learning, top-tier sound, and timeless Gibson flair. As the only brick-and-mortar retailer for Gibson x Loog Guitars, Chicago Music Exchange offers a rare opportunity to plug in and play these in person—shop the collection today!
Read more
Introducing | Voltage Cable Co.
Introducing Voltage Cable Co.—premium Australian-made coiled guitar cables now available at Chicago Music Exchange. Known for their iconic colorways, road-ready durability, and patented ISO-COAT® anti-corrosion technology, Voltage Cable Co. has redefined what a modern “vintage-style” instrument cable can be. From the original Surf Green classic to our exclusive CME Chicago Cream colorway, these high-performance cables deliver clean tone, long-lasting reliability, and standout stage style. Shop Voltage Cable Co. at Chicago Music Exchange today and experience cables designed to be played—and built for a lifetime.
Read more