Dierks Bentley keeps the music playing
The CMA and country singer Dierks Bentley helps provide musical instruments for schools
Country star Dierks Bentley visited P.S. 103, The Hector Fontanez School, in the Bronx, New York, to talk about the importance of music as a form of expression and a compelling reason to help keep children engaged in school.
Dierks Bentley listens to fifth grade students performing with the help of their teacher Erin Giacinto at P.S. 103 The Hector Fontanez School in the Bronx neighbourhood of New York. The CMA Foundation donated $20,000 to the school's music programme as part of its Keep the Music Playing initiative.
Photo credit: Fernando Leon.
“CMA’s Keep The Music Playing does so much to enable the future of kids who might not have a hands-on experience with music otherwise,” said Bentley. “I was honoured that they asked me to be their ambassador for the day on behalf of all the Country Music artists who donate their time each year to help this cause. They’ve made a huge dent in the music needs in Nashville, so it was really cool to help expand their mission to one of Country Music’s top markets like New York City.”
Bentley, who was in New York performing as part of the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe’s Pub, met with the fourth-grade class and toured two music rooms, which were completely outfitted with instruments and supplies, provided by The CMA Foundation and the CMA Keep the Music Playing programme.
“This programme was conceived by our artist community,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore. “So, it is terrific when our artists are able to visit the schools we support and see firsthand the impact these instruments have on the lives of the students and teachers.”
Dierks Bentley performs for the students at P.S. 103 The Hector Fontanez School in the Bronx neighbourhood of New York. The CMA Foundation donated $20,000 to the school's music programme as part of its Keep the Music Playing initiative.
Photo credit: Fernando Leon.
The Keep the Music Playing programme was created in 2006, by CMA’s Artist Relations Committee, to support music education in public schools on behalf of the artists who perform for free during CMA Music Festival each June. To date, CMA has contributed more than $6 million to purchase equipment and more than 4,000 instruments for this important initiative.
The goal of the Keep the Music Playing programme is to get instruments into the hands of the kids who need them most. In New York, CMA was introduced to Education Through Music (ETM) through a relationship with the National Association for Music Education (NafME), a trade association representing more than 60,000 music educators. Education Through Music was established in 1991 and itspartner school programme currently serves 14,000 New York City school children.
“The mission of Education Through Music is very compatible and complements our own goals for Keep the Music Playing,” said Moore. “It is a terrific marriage of resources – we want all children to have access to quality music education. And ETM provides highly-trained music teachers for elementary and middle Title 1 schools in at-risk neighbourhoods. In this case, CMA is helping by providing the tools and instruments they need to teach a sustainable, comprehensive programme.”
Dierks Bentley visits P.S. 103 The Hector Fontanez School in the Bronx neighbourhood of New York. The CMA Foundation donated $20,000 to the school's music programme as part of its Keep the Music Playing initiative with the help of Education Through Music (ETM) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). (l-r) NAfME Director of Strategic Relationships, Victoria Chamberlain; ETM Executive Director, Katherine Dahkohler; P.S. 103 Principal, Farid Reyes; Bentley; ETM Programme Director, Pete Pauliks; CMA Community Outreach Manager, Matt Seaton; and NAfME Assistant Executive Director, Jane Mell Balek. Photo credit: Fernando Leon.
The need is there. According to the New York City Department of Education’s Annual Arts in Schools Report (2010-2011), 55 percent of New York City public schools do not have a full-time certified music teacher on staff. And the budget for arts materials and supplies in NYC public schools has decreased by 82 percent from 2007 to 2011. Studies show that students who participate in the arts are more engaged in school, have better test scores in math and English, and are more likely to graduate.
“We are so thankful to NAfME for facilitating the relationship with CMA and setting the stage for this donation,” said Pete Pauliks, Programme Director for ETM. “Our programme serves many communities across the U.S. We applaud Dierks Bentley and all artists who step up to talk about the importance of supporting music education in our schools.”
“I’m so grateful for this incredible partnership with CMA,” said Katherine Damkohler, Executive Director of ETM. “By providing materials and supplies to support music instruction for students of P.S. 103, they are making a real difference for children in New York City. I hope we can continue to work together, to expose more children to all genres of music and engage children in learning.”
P.S. 103, The Hector Fontanez School, is a new school serving nearly 1,200 Pre-K-fifth grade students – children who have never had access to music education. Two rooms were devoted to music education and ETM is providing two credentialled music teachers for the school – Erin Giacinto and Kara Simpson. Keep the Music Playing and The CMA Foundation provided $20,000 to purchase songbooks, recorders, keyboards, xylophones and more to completely outfit the classrooms.
“So appreciative of the generosity of the CMA,” said Farid Reyes, principal of P.S. 103. “Our kids deserve the best, and CMA and ETM are making that possible.”
New York City embraces Country Music. It is a top market for Country record sales and tours. Since 2005, the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe’s Pub has played to sold-out crowds. The Series showcases the stories behind the songs by shining a spotlight on the songwriters who have penned some of the biggest hits in the format.
Dierks Bentley meets fourth grade students at P.S. 103 The Hector Fontanez School in the Bronx neighbourhood of New York. The CMA Foundation donated $20,000 to the school's music programme as part of its Keep the Music Playing initiative.
Photo credit: Fernando Leon.
CMA Award-winning singer/songwriter Bentley has forged his own brand of Country Music combining classic Country songwriting, influences of bluegrass instrumentation and the energy of rock ‘n’ roll. He recently released a four-song EP titled Country & Cold Cans, which followed Bentley’s sixth studio album Home, released earlier this year. The album debuted at No. 1 and has spawned three chart-toppings hits, marking 10 career No. 1 songs as a singer and songwriter. Home also garnered Bentley three 2012 CMA Award nominations for Album of the Year and Single and Song of the Year for the title track. His five previous studio albums have sold more than five million copies and earned him an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry.
Country star Dierks Bentley visited P.S. 103, The Hector Fontanez School, in the Bronx, New York, to talk about the importance of music as a form of expression and a compelling reason to help keep children engaged in school.
Dierks Bentley listens to fifth grade students performing with the help of their teacher Erin Giacinto at P.S. 103 The Hector Fontanez School in the Bronx neighbourhood of New York. The CMA Foundation donated $20,000 to the school's music programme as part of its Keep the Music Playing initiative.
Photo credit: Fernando Leon.
“CMA’s Keep The Music Playing does so much to enable the future of kids who might not have a hands-on experience with music otherwise,” said Bentley. “I was honoured that they asked me to be their ambassador for the day on behalf of all the Country Music artists who donate their time each year to help this cause. They’ve made a huge dent in the music needs in Nashville, so it was really cool to help expand their mission to one of Country Music’s top markets like New York City.”
Bentley, who was in New York performing as part of the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe’s Pub, met with the fourth-grade class and toured two music rooms, which were completely outfitted with instruments and supplies, provided by The CMA Foundation and the CMA Keep the Music Playing programme.
“This programme was conceived by our artist community,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore. “So, it is terrific when our artists are able to visit the schools we support and see firsthand the impact these instruments have on the lives of the students and teachers.”
Dierks Bentley performs for the students at P.S. 103 The Hector Fontanez School in the Bronx neighbourhood of New York. The CMA Foundation donated $20,000 to the school's music programme as part of its Keep the Music Playing initiative.
Photo credit: Fernando Leon.
The Keep the Music Playing programme was created in 2006, by CMA’s Artist Relations Committee, to support music education in public schools on behalf of the artists who perform for free during CMA Music Festival each June. To date, CMA has contributed more than $6 million to purchase equipment and more than 4,000 instruments for this important initiative.
The goal of the Keep the Music Playing programme is to get instruments into the hands of the kids who need them most. In New York, CMA was introduced to Education Through Music (ETM) through a relationship with the National Association for Music Education (NafME), a trade association representing more than 60,000 music educators. Education Through Music was established in 1991 and itspartner school programme currently serves 14,000 New York City school children.
“The mission of Education Through Music is very compatible and complements our own goals for Keep the Music Playing,” said Moore. “It is a terrific marriage of resources – we want all children to have access to quality music education. And ETM provides highly-trained music teachers for elementary and middle Title 1 schools in at-risk neighbourhoods. In this case, CMA is helping by providing the tools and instruments they need to teach a sustainable, comprehensive programme.”
Dierks Bentley visits P.S. 103 The Hector Fontanez School in the Bronx neighbourhood of New York. The CMA Foundation donated $20,000 to the school's music programme as part of its Keep the Music Playing initiative with the help of Education Through Music (ETM) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). (l-r) NAfME Director of Strategic Relationships, Victoria Chamberlain; ETM Executive Director, Katherine Dahkohler; P.S. 103 Principal, Farid Reyes; Bentley; ETM Programme Director, Pete Pauliks; CMA Community Outreach Manager, Matt Seaton; and NAfME Assistant Executive Director, Jane Mell Balek. Photo credit: Fernando Leon.
The need is there. According to the New York City Department of Education’s Annual Arts in Schools Report (2010-2011), 55 percent of New York City public schools do not have a full-time certified music teacher on staff. And the budget for arts materials and supplies in NYC public schools has decreased by 82 percent from 2007 to 2011. Studies show that students who participate in the arts are more engaged in school, have better test scores in math and English, and are more likely to graduate.
“We are so thankful to NAfME for facilitating the relationship with CMA and setting the stage for this donation,” said Pete Pauliks, Programme Director for ETM. “Our programme serves many communities across the U.S. We applaud Dierks Bentley and all artists who step up to talk about the importance of supporting music education in our schools.”
“I’m so grateful for this incredible partnership with CMA,” said Katherine Damkohler, Executive Director of ETM. “By providing materials and supplies to support music instruction for students of P.S. 103, they are making a real difference for children in New York City. I hope we can continue to work together, to expose more children to all genres of music and engage children in learning.”
P.S. 103, The Hector Fontanez School, is a new school serving nearly 1,200 Pre-K-fifth grade students – children who have never had access to music education. Two rooms were devoted to music education and ETM is providing two credentialled music teachers for the school – Erin Giacinto and Kara Simpson. Keep the Music Playing and The CMA Foundation provided $20,000 to purchase songbooks, recorders, keyboards, xylophones and more to completely outfit the classrooms.
“So appreciative of the generosity of the CMA,” said Farid Reyes, principal of P.S. 103. “Our kids deserve the best, and CMA and ETM are making that possible.”
New York City embraces Country Music. It is a top market for Country record sales and tours. Since 2005, the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe’s Pub has played to sold-out crowds. The Series showcases the stories behind the songs by shining a spotlight on the songwriters who have penned some of the biggest hits in the format.
Dierks Bentley meets fourth grade students at P.S. 103 The Hector Fontanez School in the Bronx neighbourhood of New York. The CMA Foundation donated $20,000 to the school's music programme as part of its Keep the Music Playing initiative.
Photo credit: Fernando Leon.
CMA Award-winning singer/songwriter Bentley has forged his own brand of Country Music combining classic Country songwriting, influences of bluegrass instrumentation and the energy of rock ‘n’ roll. He recently released a four-song EP titled Country & Cold Cans, which followed Bentley’s sixth studio album Home, released earlier this year. The album debuted at No. 1 and has spawned three chart-toppings hits, marking 10 career No. 1 songs as a singer and songwriter. Home also garnered Bentley three 2012 CMA Award nominations for Album of the Year and Single and Song of the Year for the title track. His five previous studio albums have sold more than five million copies and earned him an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry.
