The school day is officially over at Public School 176 in New York City. But one third-grade classroom is filled with noise. Kids sit in a circle, strumming the E, D and A chords on their guitars. Soon, they sing rocking versions of "Twist and Shout" and their own songs. "My favorite part is when we turn the guitar over and play the drums on it," says Austin Rivera, 9. He wants to be a rock star when he grows up.
This may sound like a scene from the hit movie School of Rock. But it's real life. Thanks to an organization called Little Kids Rock, about 2,000 public school students in New York, New Jersey, California and Tennessee are rocking out before, during or after school in their classrooms. David Wish started the group in 2001 in response to cutbacks in music programs. Little Kids Rock gives schools instruments and trains teachers how to help their students explore rock, hip-hop, blues and other music styles. "We teach kids to play the kinds of music they listen to," explains Wish, who taught elementary school for 11 years.
As part of the program, famous musicians visit classrooms to share their experiences and tips. Last month, the kids at P.S. 176 jammed with Liberty DeVitto, who plays drums for Billy Joel. Bonnie Raitt visited a class in San Francisco, California. "I don't think of the arts as a luxury," says the singer. "When I got a guitar for Christmas, I found my voice."
Young musicians express themselves on the fourth CD by Little Kids Rock, which goes on sale this week. Hear it at littlekidsrock.org. Or better yet, play music of your very own. We can all be rock stars, says Wish, if we "find a fun way to express ourselves and are confident in and proud of what we do."