EDDIE VAN HALEN DISCUSSES TRYING TO SAVE MUSIC PROGRAMS IN SHCOOLS
Ben Bamsey of CNN reports:
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Eddie Van Halen credits music with keeping him out of trouble — and he asks an important question: “Could you imagine a world without music?”
“It’s a must,” Van Halen told CNN’s John Vause during an interview Tuesday. “It has to be taught.”
In an era when schools are forced to cut budgets, it’s often non-essential programs like music that gets the axe. A study compiled by the NAMM foundation found that kids who play instruments get better grades, have higher IQs and lower their chances of drug and alcohol abuse later in life.
…”My whole life has been music,” he told Vause. “I could not imagine anything else.”
“It really hit me when I graduated high school, you sign everybody’s yearbook and everybody asks you, ‘So what college are you going to?’ Uh… ‘Hey Al, I think we better stick to what we know.'”
Van Halen said music helped him survive and pay the rent ever since.
He now wants to ensure other children have a similar chance to rock.
Several years ago, he took 75 guitars from his personal collection and gave them away to public school kids through the nonprofit organization Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.
“It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” the charity’s president and CEO Felice Mancini told CNN. “The kids share the guitars, they learn, they graduate and then the instruments stay in the school.”
The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation delivers 1,800 instruments each year to low-income schools, providing more than 10,000 children with a musical education.
“Our goal is to give kids every tool they can possibly have to succeed. Music is the common denominator,” Mancini said. “You put a kid in a music class and it builds community, communication and they find a place. It’s a safe haven.”
It’s all made possible by donations from people who have an old violin or saxophone in the attic — and even guitar gods like Van Halen.
“Music is such a necessity. It touches people’s souls,” he told CNN. “Music is the universal language to me. It transcends everything.”
To watch the interview, click here.
source: cnn.com
Music IS essential! Kept me out of trouble too. Thank God for those “Little Guitars!” 😉
Kudos to Eddie V. for supporting this charity. Being in a music program (whether it is playing an instrument, choir, etc.), teaches many positive things, including teamwork and discipline. I have a kid in school right now, and there are so many other places where budget cuts can be made that would not effect needed programs such as music.
That’s pretty awesome. I knew he was donating and an advocate of music in public schools. Lucky places that get his gear and support. This the way to from an already incredible legacy.
Wonder if he ever does the Bridge Benefit?
Right on, Eddie! You have been, and continue to be, a huge inspiration to many guitarists. Hope you kept one of the guitars for yourself so you can create more great music, and get a tour going, complete with Michael Anthony, in his rightful place, on bass.
Randy Rhoads and Edward Van Halen. ’nuff said.