Free Rock & Roll Education for School District of Philadelphia

New Chapter Launch of Little Kids Rock Kicks Off with Free Two-day Teacher Training Workshop on April 28 & 29

April 26, 2007 – Philadelphia, PA - Little Kids Rock (LKR), a non-profit music program that provides free instruments and instruction for public school students, today announced that it will be launching a new chapter in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia chapter launch has been made possible through generous grants from NAMM and the Draper Richards Foundation.  Students who participate in the music program will receive free music classes, with guitars and gig bags provided.

The chapter launch kicks off with a free two-day workshop for all teachers who wish to bring the LKR program into their schools. Teachers who complete the workshop may begin leading classes at the beginning of the 2007-08 school year. *The workshop will take place on April 28 & 29 from 10am-4pm each day at the School District of Philadelphia Education Center (440 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123). Media are invited to attend the two-day workshop.

Participating Philadelphia schools include: A.L. FitzPatrick Elementary School, A.M.Y. at James Martin Middle School, AMY-NW Middle School, Blankenburg Elementary School, Bregy Elementary School, Cassidy Elementary School, D.N. Fell Elementary School, Feltonville Intermediate School, Francis D. Pastorius Elementary School, Gen. George G. Meade Middle School, George Clymer Elementary School, Hunter Elementary School, JS Jenks Elementary School, Kenderton Middle School, Martha Washington Elementary School, Masterman High School, Mayfair Middle School, Middle Years Alternative School, Penn Treaty Middle School, Philadelphia High School for Girls, Spring Garden Elementary School, Strawberry Mansion High School, T.M. Peirce Elementary School, Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, and Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

Little Kids Rock teaches kids how to play pop, rock, funk, blues, rap and hip-hop music. LKR students not only perform, but they also compose and record their own music. They have released four full-length CDs as well as music videos featuring student-written originals. To date, the Little Kids Rock program has served more than 10,000 students in California, Georgia, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey and Tennessee. Supporters of the program include Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, B.B. King and Brad Delson of Linkin Park.

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock believes that music is a critical component of a first-rate education. Many schools have been stripped of their music programs. These cuts have had a disproportionately large impact on children from low-income backgrounds. Little Kids Rock restores music to its rightful place in the academic lives of kids in our public schools by providing a rich music education program including instrument instruction, free instruments and trained mentors. Founded by an elementary school teacher in 1996, Little Kids Rock is now serving thousands of students in CA, GA, LA, NY, NJ and TN. More information can be found at: www.littlekidsrock.org.

Note to Media: Interviews with spokespeople and b-roll available upon request  

Media Contact:  
Allison Neves, PR Director
Little Kids Rock
415-948-1200
allison@littlekidsrock.org