MusicAid August Newsletter

Summer ends and so does break! We hope everyone is ready for the start of school!

- Hosted 4 concerts in senior homes across Maryland and Virginia.

This month was marked by many talented piano and string performances, but also a continuation of vocal performers. Among the string instruments, we of course, had violins and cellos, but this month, a very unique instrument appeared: the morin khuur, also known as the horsehead fiddle, is a traditional Mongolian instrument.

There are actually two interesting stories revolving this instrument. In one legend, a sheperd is gifted a flying horse, which he mounts each night to meet his beloved. A jealous woman cuts off the horse's wings, which causes the death of the horse. Subsequently, the grieving shepherd creates the first horsehead fiddle from his beloved horse and uses it to play songs mourning his former companion.

Another story details a boy whose white horse is slain by a cruel lord. The spirit of this horse visits the boy and instructs him to create the first morin khuur so the two could still keep each other company. We hope you found this instrument as cool as we did and if you would like to check out how it sounds, please visit our YouTube channel! More performances with this instrument are to come!

This month, we would also like to spotlight an admirable individual: piano teacher Hanni Zhang brought her students to our August 9th concert, with her students being often only in elementary school. We thank her but also her students who bring the seniors so much joy through their energy and performance despite not being able to earn SSL hours. This spirit of volunteering solely for the sake of volunteering is truly commendable and we look forward to when these young artists further their journey in music and can be compensated in SSL hours for their dedication to their craft. Thank you to Ms. Zhang and her wonderful students!

*Please note that these dates and times may change due to holidays or other circumstances. The final schedule will be based on the registration form.

• • 9/7 Sun 2:00pm-3:00pm, Raphael House Assisted Living, 1515 Dunster Rd Rockville, MD 20854

  • 9/13 Sat 2:00pm-3:00pm, Victory Court, 209 Monroe Street, Rockville Maryland 20850

  • 9/20 Sat 10:30am-11:30am, Bartholomew House, 6904 River Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20817

  • 9/27 Sat 11:00am-12:00pm, Raphael House Assisted Living, 1515 Dunster Rd Rockville, MD 20854

  • 10/5 Sun 2:00pm-3:00pm, Raphael House Assisted Living, 1515 Dunster Rd Rockville, MD 20854

  • 10/11 Sat 2:00pm-3:00pm, Victory Court, 209 Monroe Street, Rockville Maryland 20850

  • 10/18 Sat 10:30am-11:30am, Bartholomew House, 6904 River Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20817

  • 10/25 Sat 11:00am-12:00pm, Raphael House Assisted Living, 1515 Dunster Rd Rockville, MD 20854

Our YouTube channel now has 442 subscribers!Thank you so much to all who have subscribed! Our channel is linked here:

Additionally, we are finally active on our Instagram. Follow us at @musicaid.us or click here:

SSL hours earned from concerts during 2025 Summer (6/1/2025 - 8/31/2025) will be awarded by 9/1/2025 via email.

SSL hours earned from concerts during 2025-2026 Semester 1 (9/1/2025 - 12/31/2025) will be awarded by 1/1/2026 via email.

SSL hours earned from concerts during 2025-2026 Semester 2 (1/1/2026 - 5/26/2026) will be awarded by 5/27/2026 via email.

SSL hours earned from concerts during 2026 Summer (5/27/2026 - 8/31/2026) will be awarded by 9/1/2026 via email.

*For FCPS and Lexington High School Students, please submit your hours online following your school’s instructions.