Give 3,000 students access to music education

But look closer --

• See the kid who is accepted and no longer bullied?

• How about the angry kid who lashes out with a song instead of anger?

• Or the shy kid who can finally say what he wants to say?

• Did you miss the kid who now has something to soothe her ears and her mind when her parents are fighting... again?

 Sure it's about guitars and the "gift of music" -- but it has much deeper meaning to lots of kids. 
 
Your gift helps make photos like this a reality. Please make it a happier New Year for a lot of kids.
 
Click Here for a very special "Thank You" and have a rockin' holiday!

Links:

• Thank You!

Elementary school students are learning a new kind of writing -- songwriting.

Little Kids Rock stands alone among music education programs for placing songwriting at the center of the learning experience.  Playing music is an expressive outlet, but writing a song -- putting original thoughts into a recording -- calls kids to share their experiences and views in a way that builds confidence and character.

The songs that result can be cute, poignant, and even profound.

Take "Help the People of Haiti"  written by 10-year-old Jailine. It's her response to the earthquake in Haiti and a call to her classmates and everyone to help provide relief from the devastation and rebuild.  Here's a sample from the lyrics:

I see you standing there asking yourself, "Why.  Why me?"
I ask myself the same thing, and here's what I'm gonna do now.
Save our country, yeah.
I'm gonna blaze a trail of healing.
Believing we can do it all together.

Help the people of Haiti
My people, your people
Humankind, yeah
Come on and join!

Now watch the video here

Powerful stuff.  Catchy too.  See if you find yourself singing...Help the people of Haiti, my people, your people... later on today. 

We are so proud of Jailine and all of the Little Kids Rock students out there writing songs about their world.

By putting children in touch with their creative sides, music can motivate children to become the change for good in the world.  Little Kids Rock’s challenge is that millions of children are returning to silent classrooms this fall, because budget cuts eliminated music programs from public schools.

Like Jailine says, "Just because people don't talk about it doesn't mean it's over."  That's where you have an opportunity...

Please take a stand and send a message to kids like Jailine – let them know they have advocates who appreciate what they are learning and know that MUSIC MATTERS in a child’s education.  

Visit our project – Give 3,000 students access to music education (#1464) – and please give as generously as you can, so that more kids can receive the lifelong gift of music through LKR's free instruments and innovative lessons that focus on teaching kids to perform, improvise and compose the music they love.  

You have the power to help a child be positive, focused, and creative – attributes that will help them throughout their lives. 

Keep on Rockin'

Little Kids Rock

Links:

• Little Kids Rock Video -- Help the People of Haiti

Kids with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) are often required to forego music class in favor of additional time with academic subjects – or to have music programs that are courses in “guided listening” or “hand percussion activities”.  Not Jose.

Jose’s teachers decided to try "mainstreaming" him into a Little Kids Rock (LKR) class with other middle school students.  Jose felt intimidated and scared, because whenever he came into contact with other kids in art class and in phys. ed., he could see that looked at him differently and might even tease him.  He was really nervous, but he really wanted to play guitar.

When Jose entered his first Little Kids Rock class, the LKR teacher immediately put a guitar in his hands and showed him how to play a chord. Since it was a class ensemble and everyone played guitar together at the same time, he blended in!  That was all he needed to get started.  Over a period of about a month, Jose went from being shy and quiet to being one of the standout guitarists in the room.  When Jose played, he played to rock the house!

By the end of his second month with Little Kids Rock, Jose became known around school as "The Rocker."  Kids who had been unable to see past Jose’s challenges now were focused on his ability to play, and they wanted to be his friend.  For the first time in his life, Jose was esteemed among his peers.  Jose’s newfound confidence and the change in how he was perceived at school made his family become huge fans of Little Kids Rock.  

The amazing thing was…nobody did anything special for Jose.  The LKR teacher simply gave Jose the same tools and attention as he gave the other Little Kids Rock students – the opportunity to start something new together as equals.  

Little Kids Rock helps break down the barriers that isolate children by providing them with free instruments, free music lessons, and a support system of teachers and friends who can appreciate them for who they are.

Please visit us at http://littlekidsrock.com/pledge-a-donation.html and click “Donate Now” to donate securely with a credit card, or return your donation in the enclosed envelope. Thank you for helping build a better learning environment for our children.