CMHoF To Bring Music Education Program To New York City Public Schools

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will bring its education program, Words & Music, to New York City Public Schools via a partnership with fellow nonprofit Education Through Music, which promotes the integration of music into the curricula for disadvantaged schools.

Students at Pelham Gardens Middle School/MS 566 in the Bronx will co-write an original song under the direction of Grammy-winning songwriter Liz Rose. Students will initially work with Rose through a distance-learning session.

On Oct. 5, Rose will visit MS 566 in the Bronx to meet the class and make final preparations for the song’s premiere performance at the All For The Hall New York benefit concert, slated for Oct. 6. The concert will feature performances from Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Paul Simon, and Carrie Underwood. Rose and the students will kick off the evening with a performance of the newly-created song.

“For nearly four decades, the Words & Music program has helped students access and express their creativity, while building essential language arts skills,” said museum CEO Kyle Young. “The lyrics the students write can be personal and moving reflections of their real-world experience or offer insights into their imagination, which often leave us in awe. The museum is proud to be able to extend the reach of this learning opportunity to New York City Public Schools via this meaningful partnership with Education Through Music.”

“Education Through Music is delighted to partner with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and to have our students compose and perform their original song under the direction of the talented Liz Rose,” said Katherine Damkohler, executive director of Education Through Music “The students at MS 566 are excited to collaborate on the creation of original lyrics that reflect their personal experiences, and to see their work come to life when they perform alongside the some of the biggest names in country music.”

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Education Through Music will continue to offer the Words & Music program to New York City Public Schools throughout the 2015–16 academic year. The All for the Hall New York fundraiser will dedicate net proceeds to fund the museum’s education programs, including Words & Music.