PASADENA, TX – Thanks to your donations, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation donated thirteen (13) xylophones and a soprano ukulele to the music program at Red Bluff Elementary School in Pasadena, Texas! “I teach students from all types of lifestyles,” Ms. Patrick says. ” They are energetic and full of imagination. They love to take risks in order to grow in their music education. Many of my students struggle in areas of confidence and focus but they still find the courage to try despite their weaknesses and because of this, I have seen many of these students blossom into confident music learners and performers.” Many students enjoy music theory. “Other students love singing, some love instrument playing, and some enjoy all of the above! These students I see as future leaders of the world and they are going to take the skills they have learned in music such as cooperative learning, teamwork, and critical thinking skills, multitask performing and sharing of themselves to give joy to others, into this world to make it an amazing place for every person they touch. These materials will make a difference in the music classroom by allowing my visual and tactile learners the ability to see how music is played on an instrument while reading music that we practice in our classroom. It will show the students the relevance of music reading. The various colors on the xylophone will help students to find the notes more effectively and efficiently, saving time and making learning music enjoyable.” These materials promote individual and cooperate learning opportunities and help facilitate student engagement which will keep the climate charged to peak students’ interest for learning now and later. Thanks to the generosity of Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers around the country, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation was able to fund Ms. Patrick’s project!  Ms. Patrick expresses her gratitude: Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Inc., Thank you for giving my class the much needed instruments to help them to have the best and most engaging music learning experience ever! We intend to use these tools to improve students music learning and appreciation for music to boost their confidence individually and as a music class family! With gratitude, Ms. Patrick 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 donations help us 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! As a result, KTBA has reached over 66,000 students across America by sponsoring over 400 various music projects ranging from purchasing new instruments, field trips, guest clinicians, purchasing supplies, and updating music libraries. 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. Thank you for supporting music education for the next generation!

AUSTIN, TX – Thanks to your donations, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation donated eight (8) brand new student model Alesis Melody 61 MKII Portable Keyboards to Menchaca Elementary School in Austin, TX! Since 1991, Austin, Texas has been officially referred to as the “Live Music Capital of the World.” This is largely because of two extreme factors. On one hand, Austin boasts more live music venues per capita (over 200 in the area). Over 1,900 bands and performing artists live in and around the city itself. Lastly, as if that wasn’t enough, the city of Austin completely transforms itself to host some of the biggest festivals in the country, including Austin City Limits (ACL), South by Southwest (SXSW), The Urban Music Festival, Fun Fun Fun Fest, the Pachange Festival, and many more! As Austin continues to grow and thrive for live musicians around the world, Keeping the Blues Alive recognizes the need to foster new talent in the local community. That is why when Ms. Leslie Rubio reached out for assistance in getting her elementary students from a school located just 12 miles from Stubb’s BBQ and legendary Antone’s Nightclub we knew we had to step in! “I am currently an elementary music school teacher and I have been teaching for 23 years,” Ms. Leslie Rubio explains. “I love to have a variety of things to use with my students so that they are learning music concepts in many different ways. My students love coming to music class and it is my goal to have as many students as possible sign up for music programs when they go to middle school! Teaching music is rewarding and I know how much influence music instruction has on children’s brains!” In order to fulfill her goals for the music literacy and music theory components of her curriculum, Ms. Rubio needed to have enough keyboards for the classroom so that every student would have the opportunity to learn, practice, and explore the instrument by themselves. Keyboard instruments are extremely approachable and inspiring which means that every student needed a chance to spend time on the instrument without needed to “double up” on a miniature keyboard. “It [has always been] a challenge in my classroom to have enough working equipment for students to be able to work individually. Replacing equipment like keyboards becomes very expensive very quickly and I am hoping this gets funded so that I can replace some of my keyboards that I have had for over 15 years.” With the constant evolution in technology, one can imagine the amount of progress a standard keyboard has made during the last five years, let alone 15! There’s practically a new iPhone and a new type of television seemingly every 6 months; one couldn’t fathom the quality of sounds and features that existed  (or did not exist) on Ms. Rubio’s older models! “Keyboards are an instant way to engage kids and further their music instruction in a very hands-on way.” Unfortunately, when it comes to funding for music programs, the budgets are too low to justify new instruments. Usually, the money gets allocated to supplies and yearly maintenance tools.  There simply isn’t enough room to allow the budget to be absorbed by a new instrument, or multiple instruments. Additionally, half of these students come from low-income households which limits the amount of fundraising teachers can depend on. However, thanks to Joe Bonamassa fans and music lovers like you, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation was able to secure funds to purchase eight (8) brand new Alesis keyboards that Ms. Rubio and her students can use to expand their inventory and provide stronger learning environments for up to 400 students! 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 donations help us 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! As a result, KTBA has reached over 66,000 students across America by sponsoring over 400 various music projects ranging from purchasing new instruments, field trips, guest clinicians, purchasing supplies, and updating music libraries. 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. Thank you for supporting music education for the next generation!

dallas, tx – Fueling the Passion of Music!  That’s what this week’s donation story is all about.  Then again, when is it EVER about anything else? Thanks to your donations, Keeping The Blues Alive was able to connect with the scholars at KIPP – Destiny in Dallas, Texas.  Founded in August 2013, Destiny became the first elementary school in the KIPP DFW Region.  In accordance with their scalable growth strategy, they are adding another grade level each year.  As a result, the school now enrolls 1st grade students, with second grade to be added next year.  This will continue until they house Pre-K to 4th grade by 2017! Because of open enrollment, the students that are granted admission to the programs come from different socio-economic backgrounds.  However, the strict consistency within the hiring process provides great stability once the students are guided through the program.  Teacher roles are expanded – allowing them to take charge and implement creative learning strategies for the kids.  Mrs. Shanandolan Ward, the founding Music & Movement Teacher, elaborates: “My KIPPsters are so amazing! The students here at KIPP come from many different walks of life. All of our ‘scholars’ are truly driven and dedicated to be the best. Many have already experienced true hardship at such a young age. Our school is truly a second home for most of our scholars. Here at KIPP, we accept all students no matter what their background may perceive them to be. We are truly a team and family, that includes students, parents, faculty and staff.” Mrs. Ward is a true star in her own right!  Before joining KIPP, Natiya Ward was rocking American Idol auditions, BET’s Sunday Best, and still properly managing her time teaching elementary music at John W. Runyon Elementary School.  Her passion is pure and evident! We know we have made the right investment in these kids. Dear Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Thank you so much for the donation and bringing light into my KIPPsters life!!! WE TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE AND WE ARE TRULY HUMBLED!! Now our students will be able to learn how to play the keyboard at such a young age as well as reading music. They will able to learn rhythms and apply their knowledge due to playing drums. Here at KIPP we are striving towards excellence in academics and through fine arts. Thank you for being the start of our mission. THANK YOU!!! With gratitude, Mrs. Ward. As we prepare for another successful quarter, we would appreciate your support!  If you would like to make a donation to Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, please click here!   Alternatively, if you are unable to give today, please help us by liking our Facebook page, and sharing the good news about the music advocacy that is shown here every week!   We are dedicated to promoting music education and cultivating a culture for the next generation where students will not only be evaluated for their excellence in mathematics and technology, but that they will also be exposed to creative and abstract thinking methods!   By exercising creativity, we know that these students will have the opportunity to think critically instead of just what’s on paper; They should be able to deduct new outcomes to situations and creatively form new ideas and practice unique problem solving – all extremely useful in this age where droughts are consuming California, oil money is running the nation, and America is unable to take care of its own people in many other ways.   Invest in music and the arts, and we know that it will benefit all of us in the end.  Life is about more than just math and science.  It’s about relationships – it’s about knowing who to trust, and knowing who you can depend on.  Music and arts programs instill that concept at a young age – individual accountability as well as group accomplishments!  Healthy competition is always a great learning tool!  Setting standards and reaching goals – that’s what we should be sowing into our kids.  We should be exemplifying self-discipline and self-confidence – so that when other kids are doing wrong, they know how to be their own person and make their own good decisions.   Invest in a music program today and we will show you a nation changed forever!

waco, tx – Thanks to your donations this week, Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation donated new trumpets, clarinets and supplies at Lake Air Mont Magnet school! In Waco, Texas, Mr. Woods is preparing for his five (5) music courses – Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and even a Steel Drum Ensemble!  However, with almost all of the students receiving free or reduced lunch, there is little room for parents to supply their children with enough music instruments to go around.  This means that in between class courses, some students are unable to practice, which slows down the overall productivity of the classroom. Lake Air is a public Montessori Magnet School.  Montessori schools are known for their forward thinking teaching methods and practices.  By nurturing a creative learning environment and allowing students to grow on their own pace, Montessori schools typically produce a well-rounded and socially fit student.  The educational method is characterized by an emphasis on independence, freedom within limits, and respect to children’s natural psychological development.  As it translates to music, students learn how to communicate, work and perform individually and in groups.  There are plenty of outlets for both. In an effort to raise more money for the instruments, Mr. Woods entered a project request to outfit his bands with new clarinets, trumpets, and their respective mouthpieces. “The band has grown in size in the two years of existence (80 members in 2012, 177 in 2014) and quality, and the students are excited to make music,” he adds.  “I teach 4th graders through 8th grade, and classes are multi-age (4th-6th graders and 7th-8th graders). With these additional musical instruments, not as many of my students will have to share instruments with other students. This will allow the students to take their instruments home and practice. Regular practice is a key factor in how quickly the student improves, and how successful they will be as a musician. By teaming up with the Donors Choose Community, we were able to successfully fund Mr. Woods’ project! If you would like to make a donation and support music education, click here!

KTBA Donates Drum Pads kingwood, tx – You know what they say – “Everything’s bigger in Texas!”  In many ways, that statement holds true!  However, as over-crowding of classes becomes a common reality for many schools, the ability to supply these students with practice materials becomes nearly impossible. At Kingwood Park High School, Mr. Sitka’s percussion students have felt that burden first hand.  This is unfortunate because like any musical instrument, repetition and muscle memory are critical components of learning new material and technique.  If there aren’t enough materials to practice with during class, the student is certainly not reaching their true potential. Mr. Sitka explains, “Using practice drum pads in percussion education is a necessity.  Practice drum pads [are] a basic resource that will help facilitate the need to practice correct percussion technique.  Through practicing and performing percussion music the students will gain a strong work ethic.” Thanks to the donations of last week, Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation was able to supply Mr. Sitka with more percussion practice pads for his students. “Music is a skill, passion, and positive influence that students will take with them for the rest of their lives.  The work ethic gained by the constant pursuit of music is undeniable.  Many students need the positive influence and support system that comes from practicing and performing with a group of other percussionists,” Mr. Sitka adds.  “Having a classroom set of practice drum pads is just the beginning of an enormous project that will have a lifelong impact on a generation of young musicians.” We want to thank all of you who donated money, and shared our Donation Story last week!  Without your support, we would not be able to reach so many students!