KTBA Donates Classroom Set of Ukuleles and Tuners Mrs. Kuhn: Warren Senior High School WARREN, AR – Thanks to your donations, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation donated a Classroom 10-unit ukulele package to students in the Warren Senior High School Music Program! “Nestled in rural South Arkansas, my middle school level general music classes are comprised of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that meet in a standards based environment,” Mrs. Kuhn describes. “All eight of these classes are part of the STEM initiative and explore how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math can team together to create an industry full of music in varying careers ranging from education to performing, composing, engineering and beyond.” STEM to STEAM programs have been growing since 2014. Studies show that true innovation not only requires specific scientific and mathematical prowess, but also creativity. STEM to STEAM programs allows students the opportunity to combine core subject matter with the arts in an effort to stimulate innovation in different fields. These programs and projects involve using circuitry, music composition, synthesizer building, aural research and so much more! “Hands-on application of musical knowledge will allow my middle school students to perform alone, in small ensembles, as classes, and as a large ensemble with their peers,” Mrs. Kuhn adds. “They will be able to combine science, technology, math, and reading comprehension into one larger task of learning the mechanics of, and how to play and care for a ukulele.” Mrs. Kuhn also says that the school maintains a successful chorus program with approximately 85 students, without needing to require extra-curricular rehearsals for ukulele students. The flexibility and freedom of following a ukulele curriculum helps to keep students engaged in and out of the classroom without having to staff after-school programs or additional elective courses. Thanks to the generosity of Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like you, Keeping the Blues Alive was able to donate ten (10) ukuleles and an equal amount of tuners for the new instruments. The instruments should arrive at the school over the upcoming week – in perfect timing to prepare for holiday repertoire and the giving season! Mrs. Kuhn expresses her gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., We are so grateful for your generous donations that will allow my classroom to be able to learn to play an instrument without the stress of an after school program or rigor required for a performance-based class. Thank you so much for helping me connect music to math and science kinesthetically! With gratitude, Mrs. Kuhn   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