FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Isa Greenberg
973.746.8248
isa@littlekidsrock.org
Rock Icon Slash Visits an East LA Little Kids Rock Class
Inspirational Visit Broadcast on CNN, Capturing "Electrifying" Session
April 3, 2009
LOS ANGELES, CA. — In the middle of his classroom visit, Slash started strumming his monster hit "Sweet Child ’O Mine," never imagining the Little Kids Rock drummer and bass player would fall in right behind him. By the end of the song he was really smiling, as all the other kids were strumming, save for the little girl who grabbed the mic and sang the song perfectly.
"It was a beautiful sight and a beautiful sound," says Little Kids Rock (LKR) founder Dave Wish. "It was electrifying." It was also all caught on tape by CNN and broadcast on national television, exposing millions of viewers to the power of music education in schools in general and LKR’s good work specifically. LA’s local ABC affiliate, Channel 7, and the Los Angeles Times also covered the event.
On Wednesday, March 25, Slash of Velvet Revolver and Guns ’N Roses fame dropped in on an LKR class at Belvedere Middle School where he spoke to and jammed with 36 thunderstruck LKR students. "The kids were told only 10 minutes before Slash’s arrival that they’d be treated to meeting him," says Wish. "When they heard the news, there was a collective gasp from the kids – they were moved to what only can be described as awed silence."
Slash donated guitars to the group, answered their questions, and jammed with them, leaving the kids feeling as if they were in Paradise City.
"Music is one of the most important, universally liked subjects in schools – just as important as math, English, or history," Slash told CNN. "It’s the ultimate form of expression, and obviously a great creative outlet for kids."
Wish was interviewed for the piece as well: "Little Kids Rock transforms children’s lives by bringing music education back into schools, and by teaching them to play and write the music that they like."
Slash was also treated to two original tunes composed by LKR students. "Our mission is to pass the torch of passion for music-making to the kids in our schools who need it the most," Wish says. "That is precisely what happened that day."
About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a national nonprofit organization that transforms the lives of low-income children by restoring and revitalizing music education in U.S. public schools. It was founded in San Francisco in 1996 by David Wish, an elementary school teacher who had grown frustrated with the lack of music education funding at his school. Today, Little Kids Rock (LKR) is the largest provider of free instruments and teacher training to underserved kids in public schools in the United States. LKR serves more than 37,000 students in New York, California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C. The organization teaches kids how to play pop, rock, reggae, funk, blues, rap, and hip-hop music. LKR students not only perform but also compose and record their own music.
More information can be found at www.littlekidsrock.org and www.littlekidsrock.tv.
