"Yamaha Cares" Provides Instruments and Equipment to Los Angeles Youth Program
BUENA PARK, CA (March 4, 2005) — Guitars, drums and audio equipment make up the latest donation of musical gear from Yamaha Corporation of America to Sound Art, a contemporary music program that encourages creativity, responsibility and self esteem in underserved youth from its base in south central Los Angeles.
“This equipment will help Sound Art reach more kids who really can’t afford music lessons,” says John Conard, whose dual role is instrumental to Yamaha’s relationship with the organization: he is a district manager for the company’s Commercial Audio Systems Division, and also a member of the Sound Art Board of Directors.
“This equipment will help Sound Art reach more kids who really can’t afford music lessons,” says John Conard, whose dual role is instrumental to Yamaha’s relationship with the organization: he is a district manager for the company’s Commercial Audio Systems Division, and also a member of the Sound Art Board of Directors.
 Sound Art, founded in 2002, will use the musical equipment that Yamaha donated to help more inner-city kids experience the enjoyment of making music. |
Sound Art was founded in September, 2002 in partnership with the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. The program currently brings music to more than 1,000 kids every week in schools all over Los Angeles.
“Our goal is to create an inner city location that’s free of charge to the kids in the neighborhood where they can come and experience music,” says Sound Art founder and executive director Catherine Goldwyn. “We didn’t have drums, guitars or a P.A. system before, and with this new equipment we’ll be able to offer new classes, ensembles and shows. We could never put a value on our relationship with Yamaha, because it’s too high.”
In addition to the music-making activities at its headquarters, Sound Art’s initiatives include a “Mobile Unit” that brings musical experiences to inner city schools and after school programs; a “Street Team” that trains bands and ensembles to perform in real venues across Los Angeles; and “Sound Art Bridges,” which helps participants find opportunities for further study and/or careers in music.
Yamaha Cares uses charitable donations, product donations and hands-on help to promote education, arts, health and human services and community development in the areas where Yamaha employees live and work, and to spread the gift of music to people throughout America. Other recent Yamaha Cares initiatives have included the donation of music rental in combination with Carlton Music Center in Lakeland Florida to students of Hardee Middle School, an area that was severely hit by the hurricanes and the recurring assistance of Yamaha employees at the summer games of the Southern California Special Olympics.
Yamaha Corporation of America Vice President of Human Resources Carol Baker, who oversees the Yamaha Cares program, praised Sound Art for bringing music to a community in which other opportunities may be hard to come by.
“Sound Art has a great track record of opening doors for kids, and we value the part Yamaha plays in that work,” Baker says. “When we make equipment available to this program, we know it’s going to find its way quickly and directly to the young people who can benefit from it the most.”
For more information on Yamaha Cares, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; or telephone (714) 522-9011.
“Our goal is to create an inner city location that’s free of charge to the kids in the neighborhood where they can come and experience music,” says Sound Art founder and executive director Catherine Goldwyn. “We didn’t have drums, guitars or a P.A. system before, and with this new equipment we’ll be able to offer new classes, ensembles and shows. We could never put a value on our relationship with Yamaha, because it’s too high.”
In addition to the music-making activities at its headquarters, Sound Art’s initiatives include a “Mobile Unit” that brings musical experiences to inner city schools and after school programs; a “Street Team” that trains bands and ensembles to perform in real venues across Los Angeles; and “Sound Art Bridges,” which helps participants find opportunities for further study and/or careers in music.
Yamaha Cares uses charitable donations, product donations and hands-on help to promote education, arts, health and human services and community development in the areas where Yamaha employees live and work, and to spread the gift of music to people throughout America. Other recent Yamaha Cares initiatives have included the donation of music rental in combination with Carlton Music Center in Lakeland Florida to students of Hardee Middle School, an area that was severely hit by the hurricanes and the recurring assistance of Yamaha employees at the summer games of the Southern California Special Olympics.
Yamaha Corporation of America Vice President of Human Resources Carol Baker, who oversees the Yamaha Cares program, praised Sound Art for bringing music to a community in which other opportunities may be hard to come by.
“Sound Art has a great track record of opening doors for kids, and we value the part Yamaha plays in that work,” Baker says. “When we make equipment available to this program, we know it’s going to find its way quickly and directly to the young people who can benefit from it the most.”
For more information on Yamaha Cares, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; or telephone (714) 522-9011.
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© 2009 Yamaha Corporation of America
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