LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Fender Play Foundation on Monday announced a partnership with Grammy-winning brother-sister team Billie Eilish and Finneas to expand a music education program for young people at Unified Schools from Los Angeles to Highland Park.
With contributions from Eilish and Finneas, the Fender Play Foundation and LA Unified will provide weekly in-person musical instruments and lessons to nearly 2,500 elementary students at 10 schools in Highland Park over the next three years.
The program will teach 50 LAUSD teachers to play the ukulele alongside children in their classrooms. All students and teachers will receive new ukulele packs donated by Fender to schools.
“Music has changed my life, and it’s an amazing feeling to be able to give back to my hometown and provide other children with the very instrument that made me fall in love with songwriting in the first place. “said Eilish. “Through this program, I hope we can help inspire the next generation of creatives.”
LAUSD Acting Superintendent Megan K. Reilly added, “Playing music has been shown to strengthen social bonds by helping students find friends and cultivate a sense of community and creative expression.
Since its launch in June 2020, the LA Unified program has grown to 5,000 students and has donated over $ 1 million in resources and equipment.
