A rural Pennsylvania school district is using 3D-printing technology to build affordable violins for students, with an aim to make music education accessible to all regardless of income.

California Area School District students show off their 3D-printed violins. Photo © California Area School District

Laura Jacob, Superintendent of the California Area School District, has produced more than 200 3D-printed violins over the past five years. The instruments cost $50 USD to create ($74 AUD), and Jacob provides students with the instruments free of charge as a result of grant funding. She aims to reduce the financial burden of renting traditional instruments, which can cost hundreds of dollars each year.

“Over 70 percent of our students are low-income. So that means 100 percent of our kids receive a free breakfast and free lunch every single day,” Jacob told CBS News.

“I just wanted to remove the cost factor completely,” Jacob said. “If that’s the thing holding a child back, then we have to change the model.”

Inspired by a video of Ottawa Symphony Orchestra musicians playing plastic instruments,...