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mariachi or band as an elective for the year as an expansion
in the district’s fine arts program.
“The partnership with VH1 Save the Music and Country
Music Association has been absolutely transformative for
our school district,” said Dr. Keely Roberts, Superintendent
of Zion ESD 6. “It is through the generosity of VH1 and the
CMA that we’ve been able to build the first ever orchestra
and mariachi program within the district. The commitment
to supporting our visions for building a world-class music
department is so greatly appreciated.”
The district applied for the grant at the end of the school year
and by the start of the school year, new instruments were
delivered for the music program.
“We continue to work with VH1 and their representatives
have been on-site consulting with us about development
of our music program,” Gannon added. “It has been an
awesome experience to see our music program grow.”
New instruments provided included: 38 band instruments,
26-32 string instruments and one Casio Celviano Grand
Hybrid Piano and three Casio Music Workstations and 38
mariachi instruments.
“Prior to being awarded this grant we contracted with an
outside company to provide private lessons for our orchestra
program, who then charged instrument rental fees. The
onus was on the parents to pay the rental fees for the
instrument and lessons,” said Gannon. “We knew fine arts
and music were a value-added here, and we did not want the
funding to be something that inhibited the capacity of fine arts
programming. This grant allowed us to have our own orchestra
program and to boost our band program.”
The district is also focusing on expanding the professional
development for music teachers. “We want our teachers to
have an in-depth feeling of how music is relatable to the social/
emotional well-being of the students through music therapy,”
said Gannon.
Further expansion of music programming for the 2018–19
school year is currently being examined and district personnel is
planning to apply for more grants for the elementary level next.
“We are incredibly proud of the steps we have taken to enhance
instrumental and vocal music education and performance
opportunities for the students in Zion District 6, and we are
excited to continue this work as we remain highly dedicated
to providing our children with modern music programming,
experiences and opportunities as an important part of their
elementary education experience,” said Roberts.
VH1 Save the Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs
in America’s public schools and raising awareness about the
importance of music as part of each child’s complete education.
Over the last 20 years, the foundation has donated $53 million
worth of new musical instruments to over 2,000 public schools
in 251 school districts around the country. To learn about music
grants available through VH1 Save the Music Foundation go to: