For the period April to July 2019, Franciscan Aid supported the funding for equipment and training for making and renovating guitars in a penitentiary in Valparaiso, Chile.

The funding supported 10 prisoners over 20 3-hour sessions, which enabled then once released to hold a potential trade which they could take into their community.

PROJECT: Preparation for the trade of Luthier (maker of musical instruments)

Level 1: Building handcrafted guitars

Participants: Aimed at 10 students from the “Juan Luis Vives” school for adults in Valparaiso, who are currently serving sentences within the city’s penal centre and who manifest an interest in taking part and learning the trade.

Objective: At the end of the course the participants will be able to build a musical instrument, the guitar, applying the techniques taught and developing their creativity. They will be able to commercialise what they have learnt, thereby giving an intrinsic value to their work.

Period of the project: 60 hours of classes. 20 sessions of three hours each, once a week, starting in April and finishing in July 2019.

Methodoloqy: The classes will combine theory and practice, in a group workshop, but with each participant developing an individual project.

Teaching plan

  1. Installation of workshop: working areas, organisation, health and hygiene
  2. Understanding of tools: function, handling and maintenance
  3. Understanding of materials, classification, acquisition, utilisation, maintenance
  4. Technique for the construction of the different parts of the guitar Preparation of the necks

Construction of the resonance chamber Interior design of resonance chambers Assembly of the guitar, pegbox, chords, tuning Frets and their designs

Handmade marquetry

Guitar finishes, sandpapering and varnishing Guitar repair techniques

  • Marketing: calculating costs, prices, understanding of the market
  • Evaluation and closure of the workshop course, with an exhibition of work completed