Kennelly Keys Music

Highline Schools Foundation Chimes In Its Support For 'Music4Life' Program

The Highline Schools Foundation announced this week that they have “joined the growing list of community organizations supporting the new Highline Music4Life ™ program.”  

In case you’re not familiar with it, Highline Music4Life is a community activity that strives to acquire musical instruments and supplies for the school district’s young people from low-income families.

“We are thrilled to support this community-wide effort,” says Ashley Fosberg , the Foundation’s Executive Director. “Arts and cultural education is one of the Foundation’s main areas of focus for funding in Highline Schools. We are so impressed with the work that Highline Music4Life is doing to help get instruments into our schools. The organization’s mission directly aligns with the Foundation’s vision—so an alliance is natural and will help serve even more students in our district.”

“Educators across the nation know that children who study instrumental music do better in math, science, foreign languages, history, computer science and other scholastic disciplines,” says David Endicott of the Highline Music4Life organization.  “Putting them on a math- or science-only regimen is like putting them on a meat-only diet. Studying instrumental music helps them do better in school and makes them into better citizens.”

Highline Music4Life acquires musical instruments in two ways:

Donations also help take care of musical supplies and repairs. Monetary donations can be made via PayPal accounts or by visiting the www.HighlineMusic4Life.org Website.

Highline Music4Life is a community activity that is Rotary inspired. It is co-sponsored by the three Rotary clubs served by the school district:  Des Moines Rotary, Burien-White Center Rotary and SeaTac Rotary. Endicott emphasizes, however, that it is not necessary to be a Rotarian to support the program. “All that is needed is that a person understands the unique value that instrumental music plays in the education of a young person.

Highline's 'Music4Life' To Expand Instrumental Music In South King ...

A new community initiative announced at Wednesday night’s (May 25) school board meeting will expand instrumental music education for children in Highline Public Schools – called the Highline Music4Life program, it “will acquire musical instruments and supplies for eligible elementary students.”

Working cooperatively with the Highline School District to facilitate this new program are three Rotary clubs located within the district as well as Music4Life™, all non-profit organizations.

“Our goal is to provide every student in the district an opportunity to play a musical instrument, if they want to, regardless of their ability to afford it,” says Steve Swank of the Des Moines Rotary Club. “We do this at a time of financial challenge because research shows that students who study instrumental music do better in math, science, history, languages and many other academic disciplines. We believe that, when funding is low, it is time for the community to step-up.”

“Music4Life is a great example of how the community is partnering with schools to support our students,” says Highline Superintendent John Welch . “We are grateful to Rotary for initiating this project. Many children who cannot afford an instrument will now have the opportunity to participate in band. That’s especially important in Highline, where more than two-thirds of our students live in poverty.”

“Highline Music4Life is a community service activity that is Rotary-inspired, but you don’t have to be a member of a Rotary club to support it,” adds David Endicott of Music4Life. “We’re very glad to have the support of anyone who understands the immense value of instrumental music in a child’s life.” He says musical instruments are acquired for Highline Music4Life in two ways.

“Many adults no longer play musical instruments that are gathering dust in their attics and garages,” he says. “We gratefully accept those ‘lovingly used’ instruments, repair them as needed and then donate them to Highline Schools.” Used musical instruments can be dropped-off at Kennelly Keys Music in South Center or the KeyBank branch at 22033 Marine View Drive in Des Moines.

“We also buy new musical instruments that the Highline band and orchestra directors tell us they need for eligible young musicians.

The School musician director and teacher

The Wholesale-by-mail catalog, 1997

The Instrumentalist

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