KTBA Weekly Donation Archives - Page 7 of 17

KTBA Weekly Donation

KTBA Funds Music Production Lab in the Steel City!

KTBA Funds Music Production Lab in Pittsburgh School Name – Pittsburgh Brashear High School Teacher Name: Mr. Lindey PITTSBURGH, PA – Thanks to your donations, KTBA donated music production equipment to the music program at Brashear High School! This included a Shure SM58-LC Cardiod Vocal Mic, stands, cables, and acoustic foam that are certain to take their music production courses to the next level! At Brashear High School, more than half of students come from low-income households. This makes it increasingly difficult for teachers to expect parents to pay for instrument rentals, repairs, or to contribute to classroom fundraisers. However, from a cultural standpoint, the melting pot of cultures and religions has been a huge motivator for classrooms to explore musical concepts that identify with the students’ heritages. Mr. Lindey, the music teacher at Brashear explains, “Our school is a high needs, inner city, public high school with a large immigrant and refugee population, many of whom speak little to no English. It is a dynamic, racially diverse school that boasts multiple opportunities for innovative creation, including digital photography, STEAM track, spring musical, fall play, band, African drumming, CTE programs, ceramics and now, music technology and TV production!” The combination of Music Technology and TV Production is a great way to expose students to modern trades, vocational opportunities, and creative outlets of expression. Thanks to the interactive and engaging programming at Brashear, students have become more and more excited to enroll. “The current electives classes were busting at the seams (thirty plus students per class), which is why music technology and TV production were recently added,” Lindey adds. “[However,] our traditional music technology lab has left students feeling a bit deflated and underwhelmed. Many of my students have been looking for increased opportunities to record their own music, and a recording studio in the classroom will do just that.” Now that the process of recording music has become easier, it made sense to help Brashear find its way “to the booth” and provide useful tools to let students record their own material. The microphone package and the sound dampening foam will provide opportunities for the students to practice, record, and engineer their own original songs. Thanks to the generosity of Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like YOU, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation was able to fund Mr. Lindey’s project. The equipment will be delivered to the school within a week. Mr. Lindey expresses his gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thanks so much for funding this project! You’ll see how much this is appreciated when I send you some photos and thank you letters from my students. This is my first funding request and I’m still a bit in shock over your generosity. My students will be shocked, too! With gratitude, Mr. Lindey Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation is a 501c3 organization that makes a donation to a school in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more every week! Your donation helps us to keep music in schools, while preserving blues heritage. Without your support, we would not be able to reach as many students around the country. We are grateful for your generosity. If you would like to help us fund next week’s project, click here to make a donation! All donations are fully tax-deductible! Thank you for keeping music education in schools! Shawn Hagood for Keeping the Blues Alive

March 8, 2019

KTBA Donates 12 New Guitars to Jr. High School Program

KTBA Donates 12 New Guitars to Jr. High School Program School Name – Paideia Academy Teacher Name: Ms. Avella PHOENIX, AZ – Thanks to your donations, KTBA donated 12 new guitars to students at Paideia Academy! ***UPDATE 6/12/19 Ms. Avella expresses her gratitude and wants to share some photos of the bright young musicians working on their new guitars! Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thank you very much for your help. My scholars are very excited to learn how to care for, tune, and play the guitar. Thanks to your genrousity we will sson have this wonderful oppertunity to share with others the gift of music and be able to cultivate their natural talents and abilities. With gratitude, Ms. Avella “My students are very energetic, creative, and full of curiosity,” Ms. Avella explains. “They love hands-on projects and want to be able to play instruments and learn more about tones, pitches, and sounds. They come to school every day, with inquiring minds – lots of questions. Being able to reach each one of them and encourage their musical aspirations brings great joy to my life!” Paideia Academy caters to all students in the neighboring community and quite a few of them do not have the means to own their own instruments or play them outside of school. Being able to bring music into their lives would make a huge impact in their educational growth. “The materials and supplies that I am requesting for my students will be put to great use for my middle and junior academy students who can share their love of music and inspiration to others. The 13 guitars will give the students the opportunity to experience hands-on learning and be used for the choir and drama club as well.” Many of the students taking music lessons come from Latin American homes where many of them have seen or been exposed to guitars and heard their music, but never had the opportunity to experience them for themselves. These instruments will also help to teach them discipline and the ethic of hard work and determination, through a fun outlet. Thanks to the generosity of Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like YOU, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation was able to fund Ms. Avella’s music project and donated twelve (12) new guitars to the band program! The guitars will be delivered to Paideia Academy, where they will be distributed amongst the different classrooms ahead of their end of year performances! Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation is a 501c3 organization that makes a donation to a school in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more every week! Your donation helps us to keep music in schools, while preserving blues heritage. Without your support, we would not be able to reach as many students around the country. We are grateful for your generosity. If you would like to help us fund next week’s project, click here to make a donation! All donations are fully tax-deductible! Thank you for keeping music education in schools! Shawn Hagood for Keeping the Blues Alive

February 22, 2019

KTBA Donates New Trumpets to Junior High Music Program

KTBA Donates Three (3) New Trumpets to Junior High Music Program School Name – Monument Academy Public Charter School Teacher Name: Mr. Pearsall WASHINGOTN, D.C. – Thanks to your donations, KTBA donated 3 new trumpets to the students at Monument Academy Public Charter School! The manufacturer, Etude, is known for producing quality student model instruments for beginners – including brass and woodwinds. The students are thrilled, eager, and ready to learn. “As an educator, there are several things that I love about the students of my school,” Mr. Pearsall explains. “The students at the school have a large amount of energy that they exude throughout the school day. I believe expressing themselves using music will help and give students another outlet to release any extra energy or emotions. Students weren’t always aware of instruments that are in the world and can be played. Once they were introduced to different videos and pictures of the instruments they could possibly play, the students started naming which instruments they’d play, if available. The students are special because they have created a tenacious bond among themselves that you don’t typically see in kids their age. The bond has been created between the students from their daily living; however, the bond can only get stronger as the young students learn to play different musical instruments together.” Many projects are sent to Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation and thousands more through DonorsChoose.org. Each music project presents its own challenges and fundraising goals to meet. Considering the fact that nearly all of the students enrolled at Monument Academy come from low-income households, it proved to be a daunting task to fundraise $1,000 from the local community. The benefits were obvious, but Mr. Pearsall sought some help. “The trumpets that can be gained from this project can help [these] students in many different ways,” Mr. Pearsall says. “Students will have the opportunity to work with different instruments that they have never even seen in person. Several students have heard instruments within a concert band, but never had the opportunity to put the sound of an instrument with the physical form of the instrument.” Sadly, the kids were very upset that there weren’t enough instruments for them to use for practice and performances. They didn’t see the value in studying music without the proper tools. We sure couldn’t blame them! “Many of the school’s students learn through hands-on activities. Instruments in the classroom will help keep students engaged,” Pearsall adds. “The students feel as though people outside of the school don’t believe in their abilities to be great. Instruments will give the students of this young generation something to believe in for themselves, as well as give them hope that people outside the school believe in them as well. In conclusion, students have expressed wanting to learn music. However, students feel as though with their lack of experience knowing instruments, they can’t apply themselves in the classroom. Instruments will heighten morale within the students to make them want to get more involved in the classroom. Along with the morale, students will have something to believe in as far as their education is concerned.” Thanks to the generosity of Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like YOU, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation was able to fund Mr. Pearsall’s music project and donated three (3) new trumpets to the band program! Mr. Pearsall expresses his gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., I am extremely humbled by the generosity of the organization. Thank you very much for the time that was taken to deem the project worthy of being funded. I am beyond excited for the students of my school. The students are definitely looking forward to being able to produce music on the items gathered. Again, thank you very much. With gratitude, Mr. Pearsall Every week, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation makes a donation to a school in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more! Your donation helps us to keep music in schools, while preserving blues heritage. If you would like to help us fund next week’s project, click here to make a donation! All donations are fully tax-deductible! Thank you for keeping music education in schools! Shawn Hagood for Keeping the Blues Alive

February 14, 2019

KTBA Donates New 3-Octave Xylophone to Music Program

KTBA Donates New 3-Octave Xylophone to Music Program School Name – Simpson Central School Teacher Name: Mr. John Wesley, Music Teacher PINOLA, MS – Thanks to your donations, KTBA donated a brand new 3-octave xylophone to the music program at Simpson Central School. The gift package includes an instrument stand and a travel bag! “My students are all part of a performing middle school band program. Students showcase their musical abilities and skills at pep rallies for multiple sports, community band concerts, and adjudicated contests and festivals. Many of my students excel outside of group performance on an individual level as well! They practice for auditions, take private lessons, and continually bug me for deeper, more advanced music.” “To whom much is given, much is required” – the old saying goes. For exceptional teachers like Mr. Wesley, his talent and passion for educating and providing appropriate learning tools has landed him with the difficult task of fulfilling the instrumental voids of the classroom with a meager budget. “[My] students’ individual learning as well as the band program’s growth is being stifled from a lack of quality equipment.” While several areas of the program do not have the necessary materials, the greatest area of need is the percussion section. “If you’ve ever been a part of a musical group, you know that the percussion section is the “heartbeat” of a group. Without the proper equipment, it is almost impossible to properly play advanced music. The lack of even the most standard equipment in our percussion section has severely limited the progression of the student’s growth and maturity as musicians. I take my students’ music education very seriously. The amount of time and effort I require of my students produces great results. However, we have reached a plateau. The lack of basic mallet percussion equipment is severely impeding the progression of my percussion students. Because my percussion students cannot progress, neither can the other musicians in the band program. My band director was fond of saying this: ‘A band program is, like a chain, only as strong as its weakest point.’ The learning of a small group of students is stifled, but it is affecting the entire program. With a 3-octave xylophone, a whole new range of techniques can be taught to these students: dampening, multiple mallets, and solo percussion literature to name just a few. As the percussion section learns to properly play the xylophone, all the students will positively be affected. A different level of music will be opened up to the entire band program that wasn’t available before because of the lack of proper instruments. The more difficult and challenging music I am able to put in front of my students, the more they grow as musicians. I am a firm believer that music education changes lives. As my students learn more music, the more they will be able to contribute to a well-rounded society.” Keeping the Blues Alive stands in unity with Mr. Wesley and his ambitions. That is why, thanks to the generosity of Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like you, KTBA was able to donate the 3-octave xylophone for Mr. Wesley’s music program. By incorporating the music theory behind pitched percussion and the rhythmic virtuosity of a drummer, this band program will be able to attempt better musical selections and widen their music search through instrumentation. The percussion section can break out into smaller groups, or ensembles, to perform chamber literature as well as accompany the larger group as a whole. Mr. Wesley expresses his gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thank all of you so much for your very generous contributions to my middle school band! The percussion students are very grateful and incredibly excited to finally have a true mallet instrument in their classroom. It will make a huge impact on our ability to learn and play music properly. With gratitude, Mr. Wesley Every week, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation makes a donation to a school in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more! Your donation helps us to keep music in schools, while preserving blues heritage. If you would like to help us fund next week’s project, click here to make a donation! All donations are fully tax-deductible! Thank you for keeping music education in schools! Shawn Hagood for Keeping the Blues Alive

February 6, 2019

KTBA Donates Percussion Instruments to Middle School Music Program

KTBA Donates Percussion Instruments to Middle School Music Program School Name – Echo School Teacher Name: Ms. Elizabeth Halloran, Social Worker SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – Thanks to your donations, KTBA donated brand new percussion instruments to students at Echo School. This includes a deluxe steel drum kit, concert toms, bongos, and a snare drum w/ stand. The following words are from Ms. Elizabeth Halloran, recently appointed social worker for Echo Schools. “I work as a school social worker with students ages 8 to 22 years old in a self-contained school in the south suburbs of Chicago. Every aspect of the students’ learning is modified to fit their individual needs and gain academic and life successes. I love coming into work every day and not feeling like I’m working at all. The students get off the bus smiling, greet me when I come into the classroom, and are willing to work through challenges they face on a daily basis. Teaching students about social emotional learning comes naturally in the environment I work in and a majority of these students are receptive to the lessons, getting in touch with their feelings, and what tools to use to cope effectively. One specific way is through music. We have been able to start a music group for student singers and percussionists to learn new songs, how to work effectively with groups, and following directions.” Currently, the school’s ensemble groups are prospering. The students participate in creating artwork to represent the class and they take personal ownership of their accomplishments. Although the singers are able to work together on a regular basis, the percussionists have been left out. “Bringing more diverse percussion selections will enhance the learning experience of music to our participating students, Halloran adds. “Many of our students who are currently using the limited instruments we have are non-verbal and can use sound and rhythm as their main form of communication. For example, the Wah Wah tube is a ground instrument where students can feel the vibrations as they play. Additionally, students learn structure, working in groups, and overall gaining a tool for self-regulation of emotions.” Thanks to the generosity of Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like you, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation was able to donate the necessary instruments for Ms. Halloran’s music program. We look forward to their thriving new projects and their collaborative performances! Elizabeth expresses her gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thank you so much for funding the Rhythm Nation Project! I am so excited to inform our students that they will be able to use new instruments in our upcoming practices and performances. This donation will assist in expanding our students’ musical experience and knowledge of percussion playing. Music is a universal language and one that can only be felt from the inside out. I am so happy to continue our program and give our students this positive experience that they so dearly deserve. With gratitude, Ms. Halloran Every week, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation makes a donation to a school in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more! Your donation helps us to keep music in schools, while preserving blues heritage. If you would like to help us fund next week’s project, click here to make a donation! All donations are fully tax-deductible! Thank you for keeping music education in schools! Shawn Hagood for Keeping the Blues Alive

January 29, 2019

KTBA Donates Ukuleles to Young Bronx Musicians

KTBA Donates Ukuleles to Young, Bronx, NY Musicians Teacher Name: Ms. Distefano PS 71 Rose E. Scala School – New York, NY BRONX, NY, USA – Thanks to your donations, KTBA donated twenty-four brand new ukuleles to the music program at PS 71. This will enable K-8 music teacher, Ms. DiStefano, the ability to exercise a ukulele ensemble for the school! “Music is fundamental to the development and growth of every child,” Ms. DiStefano says. “When students come to a music class, they expect to sing or play music. My students are eager and excited, especially when learning how to play a musical instrument.” DiStefano teaches in an urban K-8 school located in the Bronx. She is responsible for nurturing the musical growth and success of at least 600 students or more, at any given time of the year. “Playing a musical instrument is a skill that lasts a lifetime,” she explains. “In my classroom, I am fostering teamwork, autonomy, and a life-long passion for music. Students will learn to work cohesively as a unit when playing in an ensemble; [they] understand the importance of independent practice and work on using the proper communicative skills between musicians and conductors. My students are budding musicians learning how to analyze, create, and perform music. As a music teacher, I am providing my classes an opportunity to explore their creative side while giving them a well-rounded music education.” Class sizes at PS 71 account for up to 33 students per classroom. The ukulele is small and easy to manage and situate in this setting. In terms of volume, playing ukulele is softer when all musicians are practicing simultaneously. With this donation, participating students will learn basic strumming techniques, simple chord progressions, and traditional folk melodies. “Students will start building a vast repertoire on the ukulele and in order for this music making process to occur we need these instruments to play,” she adds. “I would like to also incorporate song writing/composition with my classes. Having these instruments will motivate and inspire them to be their very best musician and composer.” Thanks to the generosity of Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like you, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation was able to donate these brand new ukuleles to Ms. DiStefano’s music program. Ms. DiStefano expresses her gratitude for the instruments: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thank you so much for your generous donation. Now my musicians can all start learning how to jam on the ukulele. It is beneficial to maximize learning time if every student has an instrument to practice on. Your contribution will give my students that new opportunity to play and create music using the ukuleles. We appreciate your support of the arts and music education. Stay tuned for our pics! With gratitude, Ms. DiStefano Every week, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation makes a donation to a school in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more! Your donation helps us to keep music in schools, while preserving blues heritage. If you would like to help us fund next week’s project, click here to make a donation! All donations are fully tax-deductible! Thank you for keeping music education in schools! Shawn Hagood for Keeping the Blues Alive

January 23, 2019

KTBA Donates Portable Keyboards to Middle School Music Program

Keeping the Blues Alive Donates Portable Keyboards to Middle School Music Program Teacher Name: Ms. Mandy Papenbrock Duncan U. Fletcher Middle School Jacksonville Beach, FL – Thanks to your donations, KTBA donated seven (7) brand new portable keyboards to the music program at Duncan U. Fletcher Middle School! Yamaha, one of the biggest music instrument manufacturers of all time, has been a longtime advocate for the advancement of music education in schools. Their completely approachable method books, instruments, and music education programs have been a stable for schools all over the country. With the right amount of eager students and a patient, musically skilled teacher, Yamaha brings out the best in young musicians. “Our students are talented and creative beyond measure!” Ms. Papenbrock exclaims. “They are unique individuals who truly want to learn and are enthusiastic about what our school has to offer! They aren’t afraid to try new things and are always coming up with amazing and creative ideas.” [Duncan U. Fletcher Middle] have been struggling with old pianos that often break, however, the students have remained enthusiastic and positive. “They are determined to learn and work hard to take care of the equipment that we do have,” Mandy says. “Your support with new keyboards will make a world of difference! Learning to play the piano offers students a way to explore music and learn a fine motor skill that they can carry with them throughout their lives. As they explore music, they open doors to history, culture, mathematics and more in a fun and exciting way!” With a new set of keyboards to practice theory concepts and learn songs, students at Duncan Fletcher will be able to participate in school functions and beyond. Thanks to the generosity of Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like you, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation was able to donate these brand new keyboards to Ms. Papenbrock’s music program. Now, every child will have an opportunity to get hands-on learning time with the instruments and provide a greater and wholesome learning experience from week to week. Additionally, the students will have another avenue of expression to help them break from the regular routine of the academic tracks, and release that energy in a positive and productive way. Every week, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation makes a donation to a school in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more! Your donation helps us to keep music in schools, while preserving blues heritage. If you would like to help us fund next week’s project, click here to make a donation! All donations are fully tax-deductible! Thank you for keeping music education in schools! Shawn Hagood for Keeping the Blues Alive

January 16, 2019

Keeping the Blues Alive Donates Ukuleles to Middle School Band Program

Donation Of The Week – KTBA Donates Ukuleles to Middle School Band Program Teacher Name: Ms. Courtney Vance Inman Intermediate School INMAN, SC – It is a brand new year and Keeping the Blues Alive is hitting the ground running! This week, KTBA donated a classroom set of 25 ukuleles to the music program at Inman Intermediate School! “My students are artists, thinkers, musicians, scientists, engineers, and all-around amazing students,” Ms. Vance states. Courtney teaches music at Inman Intermediate School. “They are so eager to learn new things and take that learning and apply it to everyday life. We have all embraced the responsibility of learning and know that our futures will be brighter because of it. They are special due to their unique personalities and their love of music.” Currently, there are approximately 250 students enrolled in the music classes at Inman, ranging from 4th to 6th grade. “They walk through the classroom door coming from different races, backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, and learning abilities,” Courtney adds. “We are a family; we work as a team to reach our goals. A well-rounded and quality K-12 education includes music and the arts. Many studies show the effects of the arts on student’s performance in schools. By providing these ukuleles, I want to provide my students a way to excel and grow in other academic areas. These ukuleles will make a difference in my student learning by providing more opportunities for them to explore various instrument families. I want to be able to provide opportunities for my students with strings instruments. These instruments will help provide my students with a quality education and help them to widen their musical knowledge. This will help my students to be well-rounded and musical adults in the future.” Thanks to the generosity of Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like you, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation was able to donate these instruments to Ms. Vance’s music program. Now, every child will have an opportunity to get hands-on learning time with the instruments and provide a greater and wholesome learning experience from week to week. Ms. Vance expresses her gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thank you so much for helping me fund my project! My students and I are so excited to continue to build our musicianship through stringed instruments this year. Thank you for providing opportunities to many students who would not receive them otherwise! Thank you so much for your generosity! We are truly grateful for you! With gratitude, Ms. Vance Every week, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation makes a donation to a school in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more! Your donation helps us to keep music in schools while preserving blues heritage. If you would like to help us fund next week’s project, click here to make a donation! All donations are fully tax-deductible! Thank you for keeping music education in schools! Shawn Hagood for Keeping the Blues Alive

January 9, 2019

Keeping the Blues Alive Donates Violins to Elementary School

MIAMI, FL – Thanks to your donations, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation donated four new violin outfits to the elementary music program at Norwood Elementary School! “My students are from the City of Miami Gardens, a lower socio-economic area,” Mr. Thomas Toyama writes. “They are hungry for musical experiences and love to engage in musical activities. Their enthusiastic participation in reading music, singing and playing little instruments shows that they would really do well on instruments. They are attentive, focused, on-task, and fully engaged in music class. I would really like to see them all have the opportunity to learn and experience music on the violin. They would love it!” More than three quarters of students that attend Norwood come from a lower socioeconomic area. The emotional support and the camaraderie that stems from music lessons are great ways to stimulate growth in these kids’ lives. Learning the violin in elementary school gives students opportunities to experience music in a variety of settings – from individual solo performances to group settings of string quartet, string orchestra, and full symphony orchestra. This also includes strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments. As Mr. Toyama develops a curriculum for the students to follow, Keeping the Blues Alive is in the process of funding four new violin outfits for the students to use. “My school does not have enough violins for the whole class,” Mr. Toyama explains. If I had enough violins, students could learn violin in all my 3rd through 5th grade classes. Currently, our school only has 9 violins. Now, we are in need of about 13 violins or as many as we can acquire. Receiving this donation allows our school to buy 4 more student size violins. Our school is a Title I school and cannot spend money from its limited budget on new violins. Help our students learn music by giving them violins to participate and experience music.” Thanks to Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like YOU, Mr. Toyama and his aspiring musicians will be able to teach more students in their string classes. He expresses his gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thank you to the donor(s) for their generous contributions of funds to purchase violins for the students in our Title I elementary school. Our students are hungry for musical exposure. They greatly appreciate your generosity, love and care. I will ensure that these violins will be taken good care of and used to benefit students this school year and years to come. Your contribution will have a lasting positive impact in providing our students a wonderful “hands on” experience. Playing violin, will help students learn note reading, intonation, melody, steady beat, rhythm, and artistry. You have given the students the gift and tool to manifest music in their young lives. That’s so precious and priceless! And they will be very surprised, pleased and happy! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. With gratitude, Mr. Toyama Every week, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation makes a donation to a school in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more! If you would like to help us fund next week’s project, click here to make a donation! All donations are tax-deductible! Thank you for keeping music education in schools! Shawn Hagood for Keeping the Blues Alive

January 2, 2019