NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the first time, Little Kids Rock, the nation’s leading nonprofit provider of popular music instruction, is offering video lessons, song charts, practice guides and other resources online for free to inspire fans of all ages to make music. Together with its partner, HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, Little Kids Rock is launching Jam Zone powered by HARMAN, an online destination devoted to making learning how to play music fun and easy.
Research shows that making music positively impacts learning development and brain function and more so than simply listening to music.1 However, 1.3M elementary students in U.S. public schools do not receive music lessons, and only 17 percent of U.S. public schools require music courses as part of their curriculum.2
Jam Zone makes it easy and less intimidating to learn to play an instrument so music fans of all ages can reap the benefits of rocking out. The mobile-friendly design makes finding song charts, lessons for specific instruments or tips on how to write and produce a song simple and accessible so children, parents, students, teachers and fans everywhere can make music anywhere. More than 200 video lessons and jam-alongs with guided step-by-step instructions are available. Users can make music using technology and a wide array of instruments including guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, ukulele, vocals and more.
“The world of music does not stand still and nor can the world of music education,” says David Wish, founder and CEO of Little Kids Rock. “Over the past 50 years, technology has radically changed every element of music making. The way music is being learned, created, distributed, consumed and shared is changing at lightning speed. We are thrilled to receive support from HARMAN, a preeminent global leader in the fields of music recording, production and premium listening experiences, to ensure our programs are relevant and provide the latest tools and expertise for music education.”
Since partnering one year ago, HARMAN’s support through its global cause initiative, HARMAN Inspired, has helped Little Kids Rock’s music education programs impact more than 1,300 schools. HARMAN has bolstered the Little Kids Rock program with advanced technologies and access to music experts for more immersive and current experiences. The collaboration to create Jam Zone marks a critical expansion of their relationship to inspire and support music fans of all ages, inside and outside the classroom, and around the globe. In addition, during the month of October 2016, HARMAN will donate $5, up to $50,000, towards global music education programs for every photo tweeted featuring fans using Jam Zone.3
“HARMAN has supported legendary artists like Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton and many others for more than 65 years – music is in our DNA and we want to foster that same passion among fans through Jam Zone,” said Paula Davis, vice president, Corporate Affairs and Communications, HARMAN. “The goal of Jam Zone is to learn your favorite songs and get hooked on music making for life. Jam Zone helps fans get over the intimidation of learning an instrument by making it easy, accessible and free. No matter your skill level or age, it’s never too late to learn to play an instrument and gain the benefits of music for the mind, body and soul.”
Through partnerships with more than 120 school districts across the country, Little Kids Rock provides innovative curriculum and donates the accompanying instruments and resources necessary to teach popular music. Using these methods, students have been able to learn their favorite music quickly and gain an immeasurable sense of accomplishment.
HARMAN is proud to support Little Kids Rock and music education through HARMAN Inspired, the company’s global cause initiative empowering the next generation to realize their possibilities through music, technology, and service.
About HARMAN
HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and connected services. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. The Company’s software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 29,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $6.9 billion during the 12 months ended June 30, 2016. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.
About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. The organization partners with public school districts to train teachers to run its innovative Modern Band curriculum, and donates all the accompanying instruments and resources necessary to teach popular music in a way that empowers students to experience instant achievement. What began as a single after-school guitar class has since exploded into a national movement that brings free, weekly music lessons to over 250,000 public school children through the efforts of more than 1,700 teachers in 124 school districts nationwide. To date, Little Kids Rock has served more than 500,000 students. Learn more info at www.littlekidsrock.org.
1 Northwestern Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, 2014.
2
Americans for the Arts, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, University of
Florida
3 During October 2016, for every post to
twitter (photo) of a person using the Jam Zone site that includes the
#jamzone hashtag and tags @HARMAN,
HARMAN will donate $5 to support music education programs around the
world up to $50,000.
