Sara Bareilles of “Brave” fame and VH1 Save the Music Foundation have partnered up to provide pianos to deserving schools. The grant program, Keys + Kids, will provide ten schools with piano packages full of musical equipment.
The grant is competitive and all K-12 public schools can apply to the program at VH1 Save the Music Foundation’s website. Schools must have a full-time, certified music teacher on staff and teach music classes during the school day. The application takes into consideration such aspects as school curriculum, quality of music instructor/s, and potential student impact.
The window to apply opened March 10th and will remain open until April 30th.
The $10,000 piano package includes a Yamaha NU1 Upright Hybrid piano, a Yamaha StagePass 600i Portable PA system, and a Shure MicrophoneSM58® Legendary Vocal Microphone.
Bareilles expressed her excitement over the partnership opportunity, saying “Music changed my life. I was one of the lucky kids who had access to wonderful music programming in my school, and it has profoundly and positively affected me in more ways than I can mention.”
She also tweeted her excitement to her 2.98 million followers.
Y'all! I'm announcing the first ever Keys + Kids piano program! It’s open to all K-12 public schools! Apply at http://t.co/I60JZSprgn! #xox
— Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) March 12, 2014
Executive Director of the VH1 Save the Music Foundation Paul Cohen also had encouraging words. “We are delighted to have Sara Bareilles – someone who truly understands the value of a piano – to help us launch the Keys + Kids Piano Program,” he said.
He also went on to list various members of the Keys + Kids Leadership Circle, a string of other organizations and individuals who support the program. Some such organizations include the Lego Children’s Fund, Shure Incorporated, and Yamaha.
Bareilles, members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, and members of the Leadership Circle will judge the applicants. Winning schools will be announced May 30th, 2014.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
