Over the past few years, local school systems have been facing increasingly significant budget cuts. Due to a lack of federal funding and the looming COVID-19 pandemic, many schools are choosing not to maintain their music programs.
David Wish realized years ago how negatively the lives of many children would be affected without music and decided to do something about it. He founded an organization called Little Kids Rock, which today allows more than a million children to pursue a love of music. His story gives us all hope that we can each do our part to SAVE THE MUSIC for our children.
To learn more about the story of Little Kids Rock, click the link below to reserve your spot for a full video interview with David on December 2nd at 7:00 PM (Eastern Time).
IK supports Little Kids Rock and we recently spoke with David about the origin of his non-profit organization and how things are going.
IK Multimedia: With music education often underfunded in schools, how did you convince your school to allow you to start your first "guitar classes"?
David Wish: My first guitar classes started as an after-school enrichment activity. My general education students were invited to participate. Who would have thought they would be interested so quickly!
Over time, more and more students wanted to sign up and learn guitar. When students are excited about what they are learning, nothing can stop them. My extracurricular activity quickly benefited from the support of volunteers and musicians.
Today, 18 years later, over 5,000 teachers use the Little Kids Rock music program, which has served more than 1,000,000 students across the country.
IK: How did the idea of getting music companies like Sweetwater, Harman, the Les Paul Foundation, and now IK Multimedia involved come about?
DW: We have seen an incredible sense of philanthropy from companies in the music industry. Their donation of instruments and equipment shows their commitment to music education, just as we have seen with IK Multimedia.
In all these companies, there is value placed on the transformative power of music and what it means for students. If we are looking for harmony in the world, we must invest in harmony.
IK: IK Multimedia donated 500 iRig Voice mics to LKR; how will they be used to help the children?
DW: We are very grateful to IK Multimedia for donating 500 iRig Voice mics to us! Composing and writing songs is a powerful way for students to express themselves.
We had proof of this this year with the meaningful songs that the Little Kids Rock students wrote, which are featured in our 2020 Song Showcase. Although many students are learning remotely, this gift of microphones inspires them and helps them continue to make music.
IK: How has COVID changed the way you engage with the program?
DW: Students, teachers, and parents are facing an unprecedented school year. Across the country, teachers have become the primary responders to children's emotional needs.
Little Kids Rock is committed to providing the resources needed for this school year to flourish. Whether it is entirely virtual or in person, we are ensuring that classrooms have what they need.
For many teachers, the shift to a virtual environment has been one of the biggest adjustments. In response, Little Kids Rock has shared free online video lessons and other resources to keep students engaged. You can check out the free lessons here.
Learn more about Little Kids Rock
