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KTBA Donates Percussion Mallets to Elementary School

Percussion Mallets Donated to Elementary Students INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Thanks to your donations, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation donated percussion mallets to the students at Avondale Meadows Academy in Indianapolis, IN. About the Students “The students I have the unique honor to teach are from very low socio-economic backgrounds,” states Mrs. Patterson, the music instructor at Avondale. “Our school is located in an urban setting and the majority of our students reside in and out of broken homes. They’re hardened by their level of adult-problem reality. The school is the students’ only structured environment. The Admin and Staff work effectively to make school their safe place to learn, grow, and have fun together.” Mrs. Patterson’s students love moving, playing, and creating music; “I’m their music teacher, and they need decent instruments and MALLETS to make it all happen, bringing smiles to their faces while mastering the concepts and skills of the state and national general music curriculum (the bonus),” she says. Their instruments are old and broken, and in meager supply. “Their smiles make my corner of the world a better place and my reason for being their teacher. Positive, fun music experiences, given their circumstances is a must, a need, and a want…hope…for the students’ sakes alone.” About the Project The project’s focus is teamwork, performing in one ensemble, and before the students had little to no opportunity such as this in their music classroom. Students will learn mallet-playing techniques, skills noticeably improving alongside their classmates. They’ll be playing, improvising, accompanying and creating their own music, which equals major smiles galore! Thanks to the donations from music lovers like YOU, KTBA was able to contribute to this project and send the mallets to the school promptly. About Us 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! Under CAMPAIGN, select “General Support” shich funds the Music Education General Fund for our music projects. All donations are fully tax-deductible! Thank you for keeping music education in schools!

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September 2, 2022

KTBA and Spotify Sponsor Djembe Project

KTBA Donates Djembe to McIntyre Elementary SOUTHFIELD, MI – Thanks to your donations, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation and Spotify donated an African djembe to the music students at McIntyre Elementary School. Spotify matched donations for the project to make this project an exciting venture for approximately 350 students! About the Students “My students LOVE percussion instruments – especially drums – and it would be wonderful for them to hear, play, and appreciate an authentic, high-quality instrument on a regular basis,” says Ms. Cappaert. A high-quality drum is essential for any elementary music classroom. This African Djembe comes highly recommended by many music educators for its beautiful tone and resonance. At McIntyre Middle School, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American. In addition, more than 50% come from low-income households. About the Project [Through learning to play the djembe,], they can sharpen their listening skills and receive instant feedback on their technique, accuracy, and musical expression. This drum will serve as a tool for enforcing steady beat and rhythm, improvisation, accompaniment, and sound exploration. At this school, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American, and more than 50% come from low-income households. Learn how your donation to this school supports a more equitable education. Thanks to the generous donations from music lovers like YOU, KTBA was able to fully fund Ms. Cappaert’s music project. About Us 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! Under CAMPAIGN, select “General Support” which funds the Music Education General Fund for our music projects. All donations are fully tax-deductible! Thank you for keeping music education in schools!

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August 29, 2022

KTBA Foundation Donates Percussion Equipment

Middle School Students Receive Percussion Equipment *** Update from Mr. Tyler Harper*** Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thank you so much for these percussion kits! For so long I’ve tried to find a way for all my students to have their own sticks and mallets so they wouldn’t have to share, which is especially not ideal in these times with Covid-19. Now, I put numbers on these and add to the other percussion kits (which are starting to fall apart and these will help alleviate that problem as well) that are already here. These students will be so happy because there will now be more percussion spots available in the band program. The main problem here is that every student (except one trumpet player) is playing on a school instrument. That means I can only give out what I have and I have to ration certain instruments so they are available across all four grades I teach band to. So, thank you again for giving more students the chance to find a passion for music through percussion! With gratitude, Mr. Tyler Harper MAXTON, NC – Thanks to the donations from supporters like you, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation donated four (4) Vic-Firth EP-1 percussion mallet kits to the 6-8 grade students at R. B. Dean-Townsend Middle School in Maxton, NC! About the Teacher and his Students “I teach music at a very small K-8 school in North Carolina,” Mr. Harper says. “We have about 500 students altogether. The families are stricken with poverty down here. For some of these students, school is the safest place for them. My students often come to school just because it’s the only place they receive a positive influence. Help me help them.”     “I’ve dedicated the past several years of my life to these kids and I’m not done yet.” About the Project “The band has grown in size! Yay! We’re so glad that it has. But now we need more materials to fill the need of those joining. I’m all out of snare drum sticks and keyboard mallets. There just aren’t enough supplies to go around. I was not prepared for the band to grow so much so fast… With Covid being around, every student needs their own equipment. There can’t be any sharing going on. Unfortunately, I don’t have the sticks for them to use if they are to remain as safe as possible in these times.” Attitude of Gratitude Thanks to the support of music lovers and donors like you, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation was able to fund Mr. Harper’s project and the packages were delivered to an enthusiastic bunch of middle schoolers! Mr. Harper expresses his gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thank you so much for your generous donation! These percussion kits are sorely needed. As my bands continue to grow in size, there is a need for more percussionists. These kits help to ensure that each percussion student has their own sticks and mallets to use every day in class and to use at home while they are practicing. Especially now with all the covid protocols, it is very important that students don’t share sticks and mallets. With gratitude, Mr. Harper Support our Weekly Donation Program Every week, Keeping the Blues Alive makes a donation to schools in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more. Beginning as far back as 2015 (and pausing in 2020), we had been increasing the amount of weekly allocations. Now, we’re getting back on track with our weekly contributions but we do need help to keep this program afloat! If you enjoy seeing these weekly donations to classrooms across the country, please consider becoming a monthly donor to support this mission. Thank you for keeping music alive in schools! TO DONATE click here.

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May 5, 2022

KTBA Donates Bongos for “Invincible Warrior” Performance

Middle School Students in Montgomery Hit That Beat! MONTGOMERY, AL – Thanks to the donations from supporters like you, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation donated brand new Aspire Oak Congos to the music students at McKee Middle School in Montgomery, Alabama! About the Students According to Mrs. Phillips, “the McKee Middle 6-8 band room is a safe place. It is almost separate from the school because it becomes a safe haven for its students to come and feel at home. We use music as a relationship builder in our band room. The students and parents look forward to entering our room to see what good it is we are coming up with at the time. Our program has been superior-rated for the last five years because we work hard and we stay focused on the task at hand.” That task is to excel, to compete, and ultimately WIN! “Once they enter my classroom they know it is a safe place but also a very serious place where we learn to be competitive and rise above the competition,” Mrs. Phillips says. Under her leadership, Mrs. Phillips has had students who have won the Alabama State Spelling Bee Competition, the state Hear Our Voices competition, multiple Beta Club competitions, and have been accepted to various District Honor Bands. About the Teacher and their School “Our band is a breath of fresh air to our school building,” she says. “Our school mainly focuses on athletics so we do our part to receive just as much publicity. We perform anywhere we get a chance.” Mrs. Phillips has been a fierce advocate for music education projects at her school and has been crowdfunding for at least the past 4 years. Nearly all students come from low-income households which makes this gift even more uplifting to those students and families. Approximately 95% of students receive free or reduced price lunches and the school receives significantly less state and local support than similar districts with less diverse student populations. About the Project Approximately 100 students will be affected by this project, placing it in the upper tiers of our impactful donations. The bongos will be used for the performance of The Invincible Warrior. “The Invincible Warrior is a piece we are playing for our Music Performance Assessment [or MPA’s],” Mrs. Phillips explains. “Full of energy and lively percussion, the students are excited to play it. We have all the parts covered except the Bongos. I have one scholar playing the part and the scholar has been practicing on drum pads until we get a set of Bongos. It is important that we have all the proper instruments for the pieces so the adjudicators can be impressed with our group. Superiors [top ratings/marks at MPA’s] are what we are seeking! Help us get them!” Attitude of Gratitude Thanks to the support of music lovers and donors like you, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation was able to fund Mrs. Phillips’ project and the bongos were delivered to the school promptly! She expresses her gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thank you for finding our project so quickly! We will have these in time for our assessments! We are so thankful for your generosity and thoughtfulness to our program. Our students have been practicing very hard and are very motivated to do a great job. McKee has not competed in many years so I am hoping to go and prove that we are a different band. Thank you!! With gratitude, Mrs. Phillips Affiliates In addition to KTBA funds, Mrs. Phillips also received additional support from the Central Alabama Community Foundation (CACF). For over 35 years, the Central Alabama Community Foundation has been a valued community partner and resource for nonprofits and students in the River Region and Wiregrass. Through the generous support of individual and corporate donors, the foundation provides over $5 million in grants and scholarships each year that meet diverse community needs, supporting programs and projects in education, human services, health, cultural arts and other civic concerns. Our mission is to create a better quality of life for those who live and work in the River Region. CACF serves several counties including Autauga, Coffee, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery. Click on the logos above for information about our affiliates in Autauga, Elmore and the Wiregrass Region. Support the Weekly Donation Program Every week, Keeping the Blues Alive makes a donation to schools in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more. Beginning as far back as 2015 (and pausing in 2020), we had been increasing the amount of weekly allocations. Now, we’re getting back on track with our weekly contributions but we do need help to keep this program afloat! If you enjoy seeing these weekly donations to classrooms across the country, please consider becoming a monthly donor to support this mission. Thank you for keeping music alive in schools! To donate click here.

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April 20, 2022

KTBA Donates Percussion Equipment for Film Scoring

Live Film Scoring with Percussion Instruments AUGUSTA, GA – Thanks to your donations, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation donated percussion instruments to students at Gracewood Elementary School in August, GA! This included table gongs, cymbals, an array of hand percussion, and classroom sets of equipment fit to help almost 500 students! This variety of percussion instruments will bring their project to life as they use the sounds for film scoring and sound effects for books! Background Augusta’s First Cheese Wagon? “Since 1893, when the principal drove his students to school with horse, buggy ‘n’ all, our elementary music students have been eager to learn!” says Ms. Nancy Davis, music teacher at Gracewood. “Our music program was recently reinstated in the 2019-2020 school year. While off to a great start with an Orff, ukulele, and drum collection that continues to grow through grant-funded projects, any additional instruments or resources allow students the opportunity for further musical exploration!” What is one of their biggest needs? “Room to play!” Ms. Davis says. “Many of my students do not have the immediate funds at home to casually explore music or their preference for a particular instrument; additional instruments and resources help a great deal!” About the Project Hey! A Movie! “This music, history and technology lesson, and its many variations, has been featured in my music classroom since my first year of teaching. Having an equal love for films, foley effects, and musical scoring, I was eager to bring this unique study of percussion and film to students. Typically featured around Halloween, music students not only compare and contrast Saint-Saens’ Danse Macabre to Disney’s 1929 “Skeleton Dance”, but also use common classroom percussion instruments to recreate their own foley effects along with the cartoon. Music students not only learn about early films but also apply relevant examples of important musical concepts, like steady beat.” Don’t Steal My Thunder! “Did you know a thin plastic sheet of metal was originally used to simulate the rumble of thunder on the radio? When the idea was “borrowed” from one studio to another, the popular phrase “stealing my thunder” was born! In addition to the improvisational skills of a silent film pianist, the silent films 1920s brought many percussion instruments or “toys”. With this unique project, I hope to not only build our percussion collection but explore past traditional classroom percussion instruments and celebrate its diversity within the history of film and beyond!” Attitude of Gratitude Thanks to the donations from generous people like YOU, KTBA was able to purchase the percussion instruments they needed to perform the foley clips they needed. Ms. Davis expresses her gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thank you so much for your contribution to our classroom! With these instruments, our Gracewood students will experience a range of percussive sounds, their history and how they can play an important “roll” in stories, both on screen or on the page. Our students are so curious about everything and will absolutely enjoy engaging and exploring with these new sounds. With gratitude, Ms. Nancy Davis Let’s keep it going! Every week, KTBA donates to a school in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more. Please consider donating to this cause by clicking HERE. Thank you for keeping the blues alive! ____ About Ms. Davis My name is Ms. Nancy Davis, I am from Thomasville, GA and I am starting my 9th year teaching elementary music. I earned my BA in Music Education and my MA in Percussion Performance from Valdosta State University. Over the past year, I earned my Specialists in Advanced Education from Augusta University in addition to receiving a STEAM Certification. I love to sing, draw, play piano, drums, and travel. From 2013 – 2018 I traveled with a youth orchestra from Michigan and had the opportunity to perform in towns and cities all across Europe! From this experience, I have been to cities in France, Luxembourg, and over 25 different places in Germany. I love food and traveling very much and I try to see as much as I can! During the year, I take time for Professional Development! I am a member of the Kodaly and Orff Organizations and have attended both National Conferences. I am also a member of the Kodaly Atlanta chapter and attend regional Orff and Kodaly workshops in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina at least 2-3 per semester. Our collection of musical instruments has grown over the past two years and our Gracewood Elementary Music Program can now boast 20 ukuleles, 15 xylophones, 30 bucket drums, 9 large drums, and an assortment of smaller percussion instruments. With over $10,000 awarded in grant money, our music students at Gracewood are playing and learning with quality instruments! While COVID remains a determining factor for the possibilities of traditional in-person concerts, we hope to bring back the music to our families through digital means! For more information visit her teacher page at: https://www.rcboe.org/gracewood

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January 21, 2022

Percussion & Brass Instruments Donated to Albany School

ALBANY, WI – Thanks to your donations, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation donated a brand new trumpet and percussion instruments to students at Albany School in Albany, Wisconsin.  Mrs. Windmoeller-Schmit teaches Instrumental Music for the Albany School District. “Our Band Program is growing,” Mrs. Windmoeller-Schmit says. “Our kids are motivated, hardworking and talented. They have a great attitude and positive teamwork. They are willing to try new things and have been so easy to work with my first year here at this school. Their families support and help the students so the program and students are growing leaps and bounds in their musical abilities! Not every student is able to afford a quality instrument though so we are asking for a few instruments to get more students playing.” She also says that because of the worn materials, students experience splinters.  “Help me get instruments in students’ hands. We are looking to provide more students with instruments that may not have the capability to afford an instrument on their own. These instruments will be given out for years to come to any student who may need it. A quality trumpet can last many years and we just don’t have enough to keep up with the requests. Percussionists don’t typically buy their own instruments but they are an important part of the process. We have many instruments but some are falling apart and could use replacing. We would like more quality instruments to add so we can play a wider variety of music.” By adding new trumpets, the brass section will have the flexibility to expand their instrumentation and choose more challenging literature.  The project aligns with our mission at Keeping the Blues Alive by supporting music programs in low-income areas.  Mrs. Schmit expresses her gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thank you so much for choosing to help our small district with new instruments! They will be put to good use for years to come. This spring the wood castanets will even be featured in our junior high piece called Danza Del Fuego. Thank you for making this a memorable experience for our kids. With gratitude, Mrs. Windmoeller-Schmit Thanks to Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like you, the instruments will be donated to Albany School.  This would be the 461st project that KTBA has funded since we started working with Donors Choose. Keeping the Blues Alive is a 501c3 organization that makes a donation to a school in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more every week! Your donations help us keep music in schools, while preserving blues heritage. In order to keep the ball rolling, we appreciate your donations to keep music education funding alive in schools across the country. If you would like to help us to continue to make an impact on music education in America, click here to make a donation! All donations are fully tax-deductible and go to a GREAT cause! You can also check out our SUBMISSIONS page; make sure to send it to your local music teachers if you have a specific project in mind. Thank you for supporting music education for the next generation!

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February 26, 2020

KTBA is Drumming Up Success in Texas

SAN JUAN, TEXAS – Thanks to your donations, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation donated new practice pads and plenty of drumsticks for the young students interested in learning percussion methods at John Doedyns Elementary School!  JDES is located just above the Mexican border, west of Brownsville, TX.  “Every child deserves the opportunity to be given the materials to be successful regardless of how much their parents make or in what area they are growing up in,” says Ms. Arevalo. Ms. Arevalo teaches music at the elementary school.  “Our county is one of the poorest counties in Texas and most of our students live in a low economic household. Despite all of these challenges, our students come in ready to learn and with a positive attitude. They love to be creative and show off their talents. They just need the right materials to make sure they are as successful as they can be.” Ms. Arevalo’s students were very much looking forward to having a musical instrument – a skill set and the relevant materials to call their own.  These students have a wonderful and insatiable desire to learn, grow, and experience music in all forms.  “A well-rounded student needs many opportunities to explore and cultivate a love for the arts,” says Ms. Arevalo. “Students will learn to play a minimum of 5-7 songs and be able to play along with accompaniment. Giving students an opportunity like this should not be hampered by social or economic hardships. It is my hope that this may plant a seed that will continue to grow throughout their lives. Students would perform on the buckets for the younger classes to showcase their skills and encourage the younger students. My students will gain a sense of accomplishment and pride by performing to the best of their abilities!” Thanks to the donations from Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like you, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation donated all the percussion pads and sticks necessary to take their class to the next level.  Ms. Arevalo expresses her gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., I’m grateful for your donation that will allow my students to continue playing and learning. I greatly appreciate this donation. Having these items in my classroom will provide a great learning experience and I can not wait to see my students thriving in something they love, now that resources are available. With gratitude, Ms. Arevalo Keeping the Blues Alive is a 501c3 organization that makes a donation to a school in need of music instruments, supplies, sheet music, and more every week! Your donations help us keep music in schools, while preserving blues heritage. In order to keep the ball rolling, we appreciate your donations to keep music education funding alive in schools across the country. If you would like to help us to continue to make an impact on music education in America, click here to make a donation! All donations are fully tax-deductible and go to a GREAT cause! Thank you for supporting music education for the next generation!

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January 31, 2020

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Our mission is to conserve the art of music in schools by funding projects, scholarships, and grants that preserve music education for the next generation. Every week, we donate to a school in need of instruments, sheet music, supplies and more in the effort to uphold the rich culture and history of the Blues as a true American art form.

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