FARMINGDALE, NJ – Thanks to your donations, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation purchased twelve (12) brand new ukuleles for the music students at Ardena Elementary School!

“Our school has a rich history stemming over 80 years of raising smart, funny, kind & caring leaders,” Mrs. Hardy-Wiessel explains.  “As a Title I school with an ESL population, many of our students struggle financially, as well as, with a language barrier. I’ve been privileged to watch them learn and grow, as music is a universal language. All students, regardless of ability, work hard to learn and grow in the music classroom.”

According to Mrs. Wiessel, when it comes to leadership these students are fearless!

“Students take the reigns to help each other when they are struggling and lift each other up in celebration when they meet their goals.

Kids are born music makers. Our students don’t have the opportunity to see string instruments in school, let alone play them. Having access to ukuleles will give our students a chance to play them in the general music classroom. This opportunity will provide them with a unique way to learn music concepts that they have never done before. Not only will they build their self-esteem by playing an instrument, but they will also build a sense of community,” she adds.

Click here for NAfME’s Beginner’s Guide for the Music Classroom (URL: https://nafme.org/ukulele-101-beginners-guide-ukulele-elementary-general-music-classroom/)

“Students will have the opportunity to set achievable goals, practice the skills required to meet those goals, listen to one another and themselves to give honest critique in a kind way, and work together to make beautiful music!”

Although ukuleles are small, their impact is a huge step for everyone involved.

Thanks to your donations, Keeping the Blues Alive was able to fund Mrs. Wiessel’s project, and the ukuleles will arrive within a week!

Mrs. Wiessel 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. Hardy-Wiessel

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!