HALFWAY, MO – Thanks to your donations, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation purchased brand new percussion instruments for the music program at Halfway Junior Senior High School!

“My students are very hardworking kids who come primarily from families that work in the farming industry,” Mrs. Geneva Edwards explains. “Many of these kids work hard at home helping their families and work equally hard in our athletics department. I am trying to spark a bigger interest in developing their musical talent.”

Mrs. Edwards teaches a wide range of music courses for the school. She is responsible for the High School Choir, 7th and 8th Grade Music Appreciation, Guitar Instruction, Piano Instruction, Elementary Music, and all the Advanced Choirs as well. Just a few weeks ago, her choir program was rated a “1” Rating at the Fair Grove Music Festival! Because of her versatility, students at Halfway are more likely to have a grasp on interdisciplinary music theory. Diversity and inclusion is everything!

“We have recently added ukuleles, and they have been a huge success. I am hoping that if we improve our percussion & world instrument inventory, we can get some interest sparked in developing an instrumental program. I KNOW that it would be a tremendous asset for building a music community!” she adds. “By gaining some extremely cool percussion instruments and implementing world drum circles, I can spark a tremendous desire [and confidence] in my students to know that THEY CAN become talented instrumentalists! They are such good and caring kids! I already have them singing and dancing beautifully! World percussion instruments will start a fire in them musically that could really get my dream instrumental program off the ground!”

This past year, Halfway was granted ten ukuleles.

“The students’ talent was very apparent, and after they experience how much fun world percussion can be, their hunger to play instruments will be limitless!” she exclaims.

Thanks to the generosity of Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like YOU, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation was able to fund Mrs. Edwards’ music project. KTBA will supply Halfway Junior Senior High School with new percussion instruments to expand their music program and encourage cultural diversity among them.

Mrs. Edwards expresses her gratitude:

Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc.,

Thank you so very much for your generosity! My students will be thrilled beyond words to receive these wonderful instruments. I will joyfully prepare all summer to implement and highlight these instruments within our entire K-12 program. We have been greatly blessed by your gift. I can hardly wait to share your gift and in return share the pictures and cards from the students to you showing the tremendous impact this will have on our program. What a BLESSING!!! THANK YOU!!!!!

With gratitude,

Mrs. Edwards

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.

To date, KTBA has reached over 60,000 students. If you would like to help us to continue to grow, click here to make a donation! All donations are fully tax-deductible!

Thank you for keeping music education in schools!