compton, ca – Thanks to your donations this week, Keeping The Blues Alive donated new alto saxophone reeds to their band program!
Compton, CA, one of the oldest cities in Los Angeles County, is largely known for its consistent crime rates and social unrest. In fact, it has become so frequent, that LA Times has their own crime-ticker so to speak. Just in the past week, Compton is responsible for almost 50 different cases of robbery, assault and more.
For many children, school is a safe-haven, a place of learning, sure – but an environment where the receive other mental stimulation besides the every day pressures of their community. “Most of my students come from a low socioeconomic background in an area infected with gangs and drugs. Many of my students, most poor, tell me that band is the reason they stay in school,” Mr. Lizarde adds.
As the benefits of quality music education continue to pry at the financial budgets and the suits guarding them, Roosevelt Middle School puts forth the effort to keep a good thing going.
“We are requesting reeds for my students. These resources will allow me to keep kids equipped with fresh, quality reeds that are necessary for them to perform their best. If we do not supply the reeds, students end up playing with chipped, broken, or overly-worn reeds that fail to make a quality tone and discourage students in their practice. Without a music store in their neighborhood, students that could afford the reeds would not have the ability to travel to purchase them. Your donation would make sure that every student that needs a reed would have one.”
After we successfully funded the project along with Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation, Mr. Lizarde left us a few words:
Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation,
I can’t fully express my joy, excitement, and thanks for your donation to my project. It is great to see that you share my vision for reaching children. The saxophone reeds that you have funded will enable more students to participate in parades and show case their hidden talents.Your donation is most definitely helpful and will go to extremely good use, there’s no doubt about that. Please know we won’t forget your kind gesture. Thank you from the bottom of our heart.With gratitude,
Mr. Lizarde
Schools like roosevelt Middle School are everywhere in our country. Students need to be challenged, encouraged and motivated, but their teachers are the ones who need it as well. Teachers spend more time with our children than we do, and they help shape the learning environment which kids grow and learn from.
To help us fund another music project next week click here!
Together we can take a stand for music education!
