On Monday, Oct. 4, Give a Note (GAN) Foundation and Huber Engineered Materials (HEM) donated $16,500 to five Atlanta Public Schools elementary schools to help build new band programs for students. The congratulatory ceremony was held at West Manor Elementary School.
The district recently hired a new music teacher specifically to add band programs to these elementary schools, none of which previously had a band program in place. The five Mays Cluster elementary schools benefiting from the donation are: Beecher Hills, Cascade, Miles, West Manor, and Peyton Forest.
Give A Note Foundation was created to bring awareness to the importance of music education and to nurture, grow, and strengthen music education opportunities—for every student, every school, and every community. Music not only offers students the chance to develop creativity and self-expression, but also builds skills such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking that are necessary for success.
Give A Note CEO Beth Slusher said HEM’s investment “will be life-changing for the children who attend these schools. Learning an instrument at an early age increases cognitive development, can raise IQ levels by 20 percent and significantly improves student success in school. We’re so grateful that HEM has stepped up to make music education a priority in schools.”
Slusher said that GAN is also providing $1,000 worth of instrument-specific PPE bell covers that allow students to come together and play music safely.
Dan Krawczyk, HEM President said: “I am very pleased to partner with Give a Note to support the needs of HEM’s local communities. I have always been a supporter of the arts and in particular music. I believe playing an instrument builds a broader more diverse student population while helping to develop mathematical skills. While I am not musically inclined, I believe all kids should have access and the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument and I am proud that Huber Engineered Materials can play a small part in providing that access.”
Special guest musician/producer/entrepreneur, Craig King, shared his warm remarks.
“What I want to address is my why. This music thing really kept me out of trouble, and it gave me motivation to go to school. I’m working on a book right now called “These Hands,” because these hands have gotten me into so many different rooms around the world. The talent that was cultivated while I was in school, through my hands, allowed me to do great things that are now allowing me to enrich other lives.”
King, co-founder of Rappluglive.com alongside rapper/entrepreneur Rick Ross and Branden Criss, attended Howard University where he majored in jazz and classical piano. During his sophomore year, King was recruited to perform with Ray Charles for “The Black Requiem Tour” conducted by Quincy Jones. From there, King went on to work on many Grammy Award-winning albums, soundtracks, television shows, commercials, tours (Jazzy Jeff & Will Smith, Ludacris, Kanye West, Aaliyah, etc.), and award ceremonies.
King has partnered with Comcast NBC Universal (Boomtown-The Farm), Ford Motor Company, SONY, Apple Music, SoundExchange, Foxconn, Serena Williams, Microsoft, Revolt Summit, Reebok, The Ford Co. , The Andrew and Walter Young YMCA, Usher’s New Look, and many more.
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