273 Comments

Grateful for a reason to smile …

Thank you remains too small a word for you, Dan Rather, for ‘Steady’ and for your many years that preceded it.

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I second everything Bernice said. ❤️

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Amen.

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Amen v’Amen

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Thank you Dan. On every Sunday, you give me a reason to smile - but more importantly you give me a reason to hope. This movie is not just about people quietly fixing tubas - it really is about people quietly fixing their corner of the world. Imagine if each of us did the same?

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That's my vision as well. If we all cared just a little less about ourselves and a little more about each other, imagine what we could do!

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The film was wonderful; the dedication of the people working on the instruments, and the children’s dedication— it made my heart sing!

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Thank you, Dan for this beautiful story! While we all lament the daily intrigues, disasters, and craziness, it’s indeed steadying to see that ordinary people still do thoughtful, positive things for each other. I hope to hold onto that thought each and every day.

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Why didn't you have the violin repaired to donate it to a school?

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My guess is that most schools do not provide instruments, going through the death of a parent is difficult, etc.

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Most schools don't. The best you can hope for is that they will rent you an instrument, as discussed in the movie, and as my junior high school and high school did. But for some people, $20 per month is too much, and too often, a child's dream dies right there.

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Stunning!!!

Thank you, Dan ~ not just for the recommendation ~ but for your sensitivity to the transformational power of the arts (music, craft and film) to change lives.

What a superb and moving tribute to “all the moving parts”

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When I first saw this a few weeks ago, I thought it was going to be all about repairing instruments. Instead, it was a wonderful and moving documentary on how music heals/repairs us. Take time to watch.

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Before my father died, he told me that he wanted his violin to go to a child. My only option was to give it to the local music store, and they were upfront with me that they would repair and sell it. I felt that was better option, as he had told me he did not want the violin to be painted and put on somebody’s front door with a Christmas wreath.

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My husband, who spent ages 3-6 in hellhole Japanese POW camps on Java during WWII, started playing the violin at age 8 in Holland. I believe the music has helped him to heal in part from those experiences. He now plays with our wonderful all-volunteer community orchestra. By coincidence, our orchestra had a young persons’ concert two weeks ago; admission was free but there was a raffle to raise money for instruments repairs and rentals. We showed “The Last Repair Shop” at our pre-concert lecture and it was very well received. A beautiful film! (And the raffle did well!)

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Thank you, Dan. Your positive commentary is so welcomed.

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So nostalgic. I would send my Armstrong flute to the shop every summer for an overhaul. Sometimes it was a quick turnaround, sometimes weeks, but I always remember that feeling of having found that "missing piece of me" when I went to pick it up. Thank you for this.

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My daughter has an Armstrong flute she played for one year. We purchased it online because it was cheaper than renting it for $40/month. This movie moved me so much that I’m donating her flute to the shop shown in this gorgeous film, and maybe they can find a deserving child to use it.

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So 'gorgeous' a gift, Sue!

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My Armstrong "school flute" was bought on time by my mother in 1956. I still play it. It needs retooling again but I can still get sound out of it and at 77 years old my "embouchure" is shot, but I am determined to remember the fingering! So sometimes the new student is an old student. :^ ]

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There is good in the world and in us.

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What a lovely story and absolutely a reason to smile today!

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Don't know about anyone else, but I cried....several times! Thank you, Dan Rather, for this heads up. Best thing about this Sunday morning. I played French horn for 8 years in school. Loved that horn, but pawned it to buy Christmas for my 2 boys. Never got it back and almost 60 years later, I still miss making music. The people in this repair shop are heroes! Thank you, again.

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Thank you for sharing this beautiful film of hope and the resilience that is possible for humanity . Music is indeed the universal language and is poignantly spotlighted here. A touching and needed reminder of the possibility of the human spirit to thrive.

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I will watch! On another subject, I hope you will write about NBC/MSNBC’s shocking decision to hire McDaniel. What were they thinking?

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@Janet Wong: Thank you for asking Dan to use his voice to bring awareness to the fact that NBC has hired Ronna Romney McDaniel, the outgoing chair of the RNC. to be a “political analyst”. This is a terrible decision about which we must use our voices to confront NBC Ronna is 100% MAGA and she refused to say that Trump lost the 2020 election. It is completely unacceptable for NBC to employ a Trump apologist during an election in which he has every intention of destroying our democracy if elected. As I’ve read about what he plans to do if elected, I feel that it will be catastrophic if Trump is allowed inside the White House again.

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I could not agree more!

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Careful, Mary Ann. "Fear is the mind killer."

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They are thinking money. What else? Certain forms of media, MSNBC being one, is losing money and listeners. I can't imagine why anyone under 50 would listen to these forms of media. We have too many quality choices available today.

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Thank you, Sir, for a great story.

It should only reaffirm our faith and belief that there are more good people than bad. Great true stories in every part of the world need to be told.

My two cents

Thank you

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