Kellie Pickler helps CMA bring gift of music to schools
Program provides new instruments
By DAVE PAULSON • Staff Writer • May 9, 2008
Henry Baah, a seventh-grader and future student of Thurgood Marshall Middle School, couldn't say what was more exciting for him: receiving a new snare drum to play in the school band, or getting to meet Kellie Pickler.
The country star and former American Idol contestant was at the future Thurgood Marshall site, along with Mayor Karl Dean and Country Music Association Chief Executive Officer Tammy Genovese, to help deliver more than 75 new instruments for the school's music program.
"I should have hit the gym before I came," Pickler said, while passing along one of six tubas unloaded from a truck.
'We are Music City'
Thurgood Marshall is one of 30 Metro Nashville public schools receiving instruments as part of CMA's "Keep the Music Playing" partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education. CMA donates half of the net proceeds from its annual CMA Music Festival to the program, and to date has raised more than $1.1 million for instruments and musical equipment.
"We are Music City," Dean said. "We have a rich history of all types of music in Nashville … we've got it all, and we need to have more music in our schools. It's important that we be a leader in terms of musical education, and CMA has really helped make that possible."
Pickler emphasized the program's importance to the students themselves, explaining to them while passing instruments that her school system didn't provide for a school band until high school.
"I love music, and I know with you guys, it's so dear to your hearts as it is mine," she said. "It's awesome that CMA Music Festival gives half the proceeds to you guys so that you can have the best equipment possible, because you are the best and you deserve the best, and I'm honored to be a part of it."
Thurgood Marshall is the largest recipient of instruments for this year's program, which raised $655,624 through proceeds from the 2007 CMA Music Festival. In addition to the instruments, HCA is donating 800 tickets to Metro high schoolers for a concert during the CMA Music Fest.
"This is one of the most fun things that we get to do," Genovese said. "We love being part of the community. It's what we are, it's who we are."
Kellie Pickler helps CMA bring gift of music to schools | www.tennessean.com | The Tennessean
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