KIDS TESTIMONIALS
Studies show that students who are involved in music have a higher graduation rate than those who don’t. “Keep the Music Playing” has donated funds to Metro Nashville Public Schools for instruments, sheet music, guitar labs and more.
These are quotes from some of those students about what their music education means to them.
“I think it is so fun to learn songs and to play in front of an audience. I like to get out my instrument to learn our songs and to play with the other groups and to hear me play. Band is wonderful.”
Charlene Bard
“It has given me a great opportunity because now I can do something I have never been able to do. The viola can also give me another opportunity to get a scholarship to a great college.”
Jordan Bell
“Violin is really fun because you get to play lots of songs at concerts and when you play hard songs, you don’t understand them at first, but when you practice them, you’ll understand.”
Tauniasha Bokeyjack
“I think it’s fun to learn how to play new notes. But it’s kind of tricky to get the notes C to A and B flat. But my practicing made it untricky.”
Diamond Braden
“I love to play music and I love to play the clarinet. And I am happy that the people chose me to be in this class. It is an honor to wake up and know that I get to play that afternoon.”
Ashley Brooks
“Playing instruments is very fun and I think I will always play the clarinet.”
Sydney Brooks
“Without band class this school would probably be very boring.”
Courtaijaha Brooks-James
“It is a privilege to be able to learn and play music of all sorts. Without this program many students wouldn’t have the opportunity to follow their dream of playing music.”
Autumn Buchanan
“This was the first time I took and learned in band. This year has been the greatest experience.”
Mai Sheila Carter
“I am very appreciative for being a part of this group. I played for a nursing home once and they said I played very good so I went back a second time and they said that I have really improved. It was encouraging.”
Kiara Chatman
“I have enjoyed the experience, and I will continue to play as long as I can.”
Micala Clow
“I really thank CMA for donating instruments to my school I.T. Creswell [Middle Arts Magnet School], because after my instrument wood cracked and my neck broke on my instrument, Mrs. Voltz had good news for me. I had a new instrument.”
Keisha Coleman
“Saxophone is better because you have more choices and I always want to be in band because I love it and I want never to get out of it because I love it.”
Jabori Crutcher
“I love my violin and wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Ke’Andrea Davis
“I thought band was kind of fun. At first, I thought it would be a complex environment, especially for a beginning fifth grader, but as we progressed, I began to become used to the complex, wild, vividly creative place.”
Deamontay
“Everyday I come to school, this is the main class I look forward to.”
Destiney
“Overall my experience in band has been great. If somebody took band away from me I wouldn’t know how to survive.”
Lestonja Diaz
“There’s one thing that I like most about band and that is playing with my friends.”
Dominique
“Me and my friends have been playing together for about four years. And I am very thankful for your generosity.”
Michale Edwards
“I respect the fact that somebody took the time to donate instruments. We have creative minds and now we can express ourselves and I love the opportunity.”
Jazz Fields
“All in all, band has been a life warming experience and I will never forget it.”
Charity Furr
“When I first started out playing I didn’t know anything about music. I didn’t know how to read it or even play it. Since then, my knowledge for music has grown.”
Terika Givens
“Band has been an experience to me because I have always wanted to play a clarinet or a flute.”
Jamari H.
“When I play for my family now they say 'Grace you have improved tremendously' and they congratulate me with a large loud applause. When I grow up I want to be known as the amazing Grace and to be known all over the entire world and have millions of fans and get famous and be known as one of the best violin players in the world.”
Grace Halverson
“I think it is great that you donated instruments to our school, because some people can’t buy one or their parents won’t let them.”
Samira Hardcastle
“I’m glad I’m one of those people who can actually learn to play an instrument.”
Maya Hernandez
“When I learn something new, I will take my instrument home and practice. At our concerts my mom would video it and I would go home and watch and look at how good I look.”
Ashli Hill
“I think that every child should have the opportunity to have a band and play music.”
Hannah Isabella Hrabovsky
“I’ve come from not being able to play a note to 1st trumpet.”
Sydney Hunt
“Ever since I was little I loved the way the violin sounded and always wanted to be just like that guy on T.V. who played like Yo Yo Ma. I hope I soon will be seen in a concert, not to be famous, not to get rich, but to provide a wonderful sound for me and others.”
Juniper J.
“For me, the bass means life. When I play the bass it makes me happy and calms me down.”
Portia J.
“I always practice on my violin. Keeping up with violin is hard. Violin, violin, I love it. I’m always talking about violin. It’s so fun.”
Jameela Jenkins
“The things I love about band are the music. I also enjoy all my friends in band. My friend Lindsey can already play 'Lean on Me' perfectly and we just learned it.”
Courtney Jennette
“I really enjoy band. I’ve gotten much better. I remember when I couldn’t get a sound out, but now I can play almost any piece.”
MyKaela Johnson
“The flute means a lot to me.”
Destani Jones
“Being in band has been a great experience, because I know that this is going to carry me through high school and college.”
Shania Jones
“I wish to grow up and know how to play Jazz, and also I wish to know how to play Blues.”
Kyra Kennedy
“I didn’t know how to play a single note but after awhile I could play number 20 in my book. I figured out how to read my notes instead of just listening to music.”
Kobe
“I also think that it is important for kids to have an opportunity to play music and get to know what it’s like to read it too.”
Jada Locke
“I play the clarinet and it is a pretty sound you can also play hip hop songs and you can really get into it.”
Andresha M.
“Being part of an instrumental music group to me, means being different and weird, but in a good way. I love being creative, and smart. Thank you for donating instruments to our school.”
Meyri S. Martinez
“Band is for being creative to me because sometimes in band you can figure out the rest of the music without the teacher and the teacher would appreciate you for telling her or him that so they can teach the rest of the students.”
Teshara Mayes
“When I first heard I would be playing the viola, I didn’t even know what a viola was. At first, I wasn’t exactly sure I could handle playing the viola. But I’m really glad I decided to play the viola. I really enjoy it.”
Silvia Narvaez
“Strings are getting to be fun because I’m getting the notes.”
Bianca Newsom
“I am so thankful that there are some nice people in this world. I am so glad that I won’t have to pay a fortune just to buy an instrument.”
Breana Norman
“When you get to learn how to play your instrument it’s a lot of fun. And I love music so that’s probably why I joined band so I can play my favorite songs.”
Tamara P.
“I like strings because I get to play an instrument that nobody in my family would even think about playing.”
Taylor P.
“I heard that classical music makes the brain smarter. I didn’t think that it would make me a genius all of a sudden but I did think it would help to improve my intelligence – if that even makes sense. So it seemed like a good idea to play the violin.”
Giovanni Perry
“And right at that moment I knew which instrument I wanted to play and that was the alto saxophone.”
Jaren Prowell
“Next year I want to learn even more than this year.”
Lindsey Reeder
“My violin sounds so beautiful like a red bird singing. When I found out that I was playing the violin I was so psyched.”
Ericka Ridley
“I like playing my viola because I enjoy the confused expressions on people’s faces when they hear that I play an instrument they have never heard of before.”
Katrina Roberts
“I play the violin so much so I can get better and better.”
Lanesia S.
“To me music is an exciting experience because it’s all of music all over the world and it’s a lot of music to choose from also music you can relate to.”
Teriyana Scales
“I’m grateful that I, picked from hundreds of children, have had the opportunity to go through this experience, even though I probably wouldn’t be able to afford a violin.”
Robnesha Smith
“I play the alto saxophone, the most common one. It is directly in the middle. Not too high. Not too low. Just right. At least to me.”
Erica Spicer
“Band this year for me, has been very important. It’s been inspirational.”
Maihayla Stephens
“Since this is going on my record, it’s like another step helping me to get into NSA, and hopefully Juilliard. These are just steps, helping me to make it to the top and someday perform not only for you, but everyone.”
Kyla T.
“Band has been the best part of school. Without band I wouldn’t have anything to look forward to.”
Thomas T.
“I play the clarinet. And I love it. It is my life. Even though I don’t play it a lot.”
Alea DaN’ay Taylor
“What has benefited me from being in band is that I have gotten the chance to experience something new.”
Breanna Taylor
“I like playing my instrument because I get to hear other people play, and we get to go on field trips.”
Britteny Tytlandsirk
“I love playing in the band to learn about new cultures and other civilizations through music.”
Alex Wells
“It means that you can have fun doing what you want to do for yourself.”
Mikaela Wiley