Wanna Play Music Week: Friday

by NAMM Staff | May 5th, 2008
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MUSICAL HEROES
People across the nation are making a difference in their local communities with the power of music. There are heroes all around us, and each of us has music within us. NAMM would like to recognize a few people who rock! These heroes bring awareness of the importance of music education to people of all ages. Their success proves everyone can benefit from playing an instrument, whether music is used as therapy or simply to reduce stress, and it is never too late to start. Thank you to all the heroes out there for hard work, dedication and incredible passion for music!

Spokespersons:

David Levine – Roots of Rhythm

Roots of Rhythm was created for use in International House of Blues Foundation (IHOBF) and other arts and educational programs. Roots was developed to expand music education by giving students who may not be able to participate in a band program a greater opportunity to take advantage of the developmental benefits of making music. At the same time, the Roots curriculum integrates drums and drumming from around the world into core academic subjects such as social studies, language arts, math and science. This creates an interdisciplinary, hands-on approach to learning and supports a deeper understanding and greater retention of classroom instruction.

    “There are so many benefits for today’s kids; maybe more than ever. Music gives kids a foundation, it requires discipline, it sets goals, it teaches the value of teamwork, it keeps them motivated to stay in school. Plus, music helps young people develop a sense of self-worth and self-confidence within a group structure. For teens, it provides an incredibly important creative outlet during an incredibly difficult and often confusing part of their lives.”

    – David Levine, Roots of Rhythm

Dave Wish – Little Kids Rock

Dave Wish, an elementary school teacher, grew frustrated with the dwindling funding for music education and decided to keep the beat alive. Dave founded Little Kids Rock, a national organization dedicated to bringing free musical instruments and music instruction to public school children. By focusing on popular music that kid know and love and providing free musical instruments and trained instructors to children, dreams are being reached everyday thanks to this exceptional program. Little Kids Rock instills a sense of worth, pride and accomplishment and gives all kids a chance to reap the many benefits of music making.

    “If it wasn’t for the meteoric impact that playing guitar had on my life, I never would have understood how easily music can be learned and enjoyed and I would never have gone on to found Little Kids Rock, one of the largest, instrument providing charities in the US. I wake up every morning and I ask myself, “What can I do to restore and revitalize music education in our schools today?” Then I come up with a plan for the day and execute it, one foot after the other. In that fashion, the organization I founded has been able to serve tens of thousands of students in ten states.”

    “I believe that children who are in touch with their creative sides are infinitely less attracted to the cheaper thrills that come from destructive behavior. If you were to list the top ten attributes that most define humanity, music making would have to be on that list. A more musical society is a more humane society.”

    – Dave Wish, Little Kids Rock

J. Duff Rowden – Musical Mentors

Musical Mentors is an educational outreach that was created to provide at-risk and underprivileged children with a chance for greatness. In classroom setting, Musical Mentors provides free lessons, curriculum and instruments that the kids can actually earn and keep. Just as importantly, the program utilizes mature teens and adults who become dynamic role models to the kids and give them one-on-one help in class. Hence the name, “Musical Mentors”. It’s a plan that is working!

    “Recently, a mom came up to me and told me that her child’s teacher was very happy about something: The child’s math score had risen dramatically. When the teacher asked the mom what she was doing differently, the mom said, “guitar class!””

    “Many students who very shyly started our classes with heads down, shoulders hunched forward are now walking tall: heads up, shoulders back, exuding a newfound confidence.”

    “As we work with the young mentors, they learn the joy of serving and investing in the lives of children. They develop their leadership abilities and learn the marketable skill of teaching music. The students themselves thrive on the personal attention and learn perseverance, goal setting, organization, and creativity. Some of the kids are already writing their own melodies!”

    – J. Duff Rowden, Music Mentors