Steve Miller Band Benefit Concert Raises Over $500,000 For Kids Rock Free Music Program

Kids Rock Free has announced legendary musical icon, the Steve Miller Band, recently raised over $500,000 from individuals, local and national business, performing artists, music industry executives, and community leaders in support of music education at a sold-out benefit concert at The Fender Center in Corona, CA. All proceeds from the event went to benefit the non-profit Kids Rock Free music education program, to reduce the 800 kids on the program’s waiting list into classes at The Fender Center. With the success of the event, Kids Rock Free has also announced they will launch a nationwide campaign to expand the organization and its efforts by offering a model of music education that can be replicated in communities throughout the US.

With ongoing budget cuts in arts programs leaving many schools across the country without music programs, Kids Rock Free non-profit music education program aims to alleviate the void created by diminishing music education resources in schools. Individuals and organizations interested in learning more on how they can participate and build a community program of their own are encouraged to visit www.FenderMuseum.com/KidsRockFree.

“Kids Rock Free and the Fender Center thank Steve Miller for his incredible long-standing dedication to our program and helping to expand music education opportunities for kids everywhere. Everyone was thrilled by such a great evening of music,” said Mike Kerr, Kids Rock Free. “Our 1,300 guests loved it, our student performers were all smiles, and Steve Miller said it was ‘an amazing, wonderful evening.’ He truly saved the best for last during his encore song, ‘Jungle Love,’ when he brought four Kids Rock Free students on stage to jam with him and Kenny Lee Lewis, in ‘the rarely seen six guitar extravaganza.’ It looked like six kids up there having fun, playing music. Now, our mission is simple: promote the importance of music education across the country and show communities everywhere how they can be proactively involved.”

At a time when many public education facilities are forced to reduce or eliminate music education programs, Kids Rock Free offers an alternate, high-quality, free community resource for music education providing children ages 7 to 17 with six-months of no-cost lessons in piano, guitar, bass, drums, vocal performance and combo band. Research on the benefits of music education simply show that children who study music education do better in school showing improved SAT scores (57 points higher on the verbal portion/43 points higher on the math portion), life-skill developments and are much more likely to attend college (students with music education experience attend college at a rate double that of students without musical training).

The Fender Center conducts events throughout the year to bring musical experiences to the general public and raise funds to continue the important work of children’s music education. Recently, The Fender Center and Kids Rock Free partnered to launch a text-to-donate campaign, which has raised $30,000 to date, from donations made by individuals across the country. To get involved, simply text R-O-C-K to 50555 to donate $10 to Kids Rock Free. When prompted, reply “YES” to confirm your gift. $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill/ deducted from your prepaid account. For up-to-date information, please visit www.FenderMuseum.org to join the mailing and learn more about upcoming events.