Kids In A New Groove In The News

Austin Monthly

Kids In A New Groove . — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:34:38 GMT

Kids in a New Groove is featured in Austin Family Magazine. Check out the digital copy here.

Blanco County News Cover's KING's Instrument Drive

Fri, 13 May 2011 09:53:27 GMT

May 12, 2011

Kids In a New Groove is holding a Musical Instrument and Funds Drive from April 21- May 21, and community members are needed to help collect new and gently used instruments and donations for foster children in our program who have been abused and neglected. The Instrument Drive is sorely needed, as recent budget cuts now put Texas in 50th place for per capita funding of foster children.

Texas-based Kids In a New Groove (KING) is a 501c3 non-profit that provides free private music lessons and instruments to children in the Texas foster care system, currently focusing on Central Texas. Our vision is to enrich and enhance the lives of foster children by nurturing their hearts and minds through music. Kids generally go into foster care because their options have run out due to unrelenting abuse or neglect within the home; this abuse can have negative long-term consequences that follow children throughout their lives. Kids In a New Groove seeks to change that by matching qualified teachers with youth who are currently in the Texas foster care system and providing more than music education; KING provides a mentor who helps build life skills through the power of music education.

The arts can be a safe haven for kids who lack stability in their lives, providing motivation and stimulation, and instilling a sense of confidence and achievement. Many children who participate in music programs improve their behavior and grades in school. Join us in our mission to help these valuable kids bloom with music.

It is easy to participate: You can drop off donated instruments through May 21 at Strait Music’s north location (13945 Hwy 183 North at Hwy 620, Austin, TX 78717) or south location (2428 W. Ben White Blvd. at S. Lamar, Austin, TX 78704) Monday-Friday from 9:30am-7:00pm and Saturdays from 9:30am-5:30pm, or contact Stacy Russell at 210-373-4196 to make other arrangements for pick up.

To make a financial donation to the Instrument Drive, please visit the website at www.kidsinanewgroove.org.

Kids In a New Groove is endorsed by the Blanco County Child Protection and Family Advocacy Board, whose mission is to encourage and promote activities that will benefit Blanco County children in court-ordered protective custody as well as underprivileged children in the community in need of services. This Board has provided musical instruments and lessons to Blanco County children in protective custody in the past and looks forward to working cooperatively with KING to better serve Blanco County children interested in music. One of our children in foster care is currently participating in and benefitting from the KING program.

For the most up-to-date news, follow Kids In a New Groove on Twitter (Kidsgroove) and on Facebook. For any questions, or to participate in the Instrument and Funds Drive, please email shanti@kidsinanewgroove.org, or call 512-659-2154. Or contact Stacy Russell at 210-373-4196 or st_srussell@yahoo.com.

With the support of our partners and community, we hope to raise $10,000 and collect 100 instruments between April 21 and May 21!

Will Taylor and String Attached collect instruments during the 2011 instrument drive

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:09:10 GMT

Will Taylor to BURN Bad Violins for a Good cause at Zeppelin Show Friday April 29!

As a part of child abuse prevention month, and to support Kids In A New Groove, Strings Attached is accepting instrument donations and donating 10% of the proceeds from its Friday Led Zeppelin tribute show at Nutty Brown Cafe and its Rock Retrospective Saturday at the Continental Club.

WHEN:

Friday, April 29th 7:45 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Strings Attached Zeppelin Show with Tameca Jones and Lisa Tingle

Nutty Brown Cafe, 12225 West Highway 290
Tickets at StringsAttached.org

Contact: Will Taylor 512-775-2371
Amanda Cevallos 512-944-8407

Email: improv.will@gmail.com
Websites:: http://www.classicrockseries.com and http://www.StringsAttached.org
Hi-Res Images Bevis Griffin Tameca Jones Strings Attached Lisa Tingle

The Stunt: At the conclusion of each show, a pile of “bad” violins will be burned to the accompaniment of of Tameca Jones and Lisa Tingle singing Led Zeppelin’s Dazed and Confused.

KIDSINANEWGROOVE.ORG

Texas based non-profit Kids In A New Groove (K.I.N.G.) provides private music lessons and instruments to abused and neglected children in the Texas foster care system. Their vision is to enrich and enhance the lives of foster children by nurturing their hearts and minds through music. A K.I.N.G. teacher stays with each foster child as they move between placements, providing a consistent and stable mentor. Through music education, the K.I.N.G. program also helps children build life skills, accountability, goal-setting, and perseverance. Each foster child is given the chance to earn their very own musical instrument through dedication and hard work, as well as encouraged to perform at concerts and recitals. Through Kids in a New Groove, lessons are the lifeline to a better future.

The month of April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. With this month-long observance, Texas based non-profit Kids In A New Groove is partnering with legendary rock group The Moody Blues and Strait Music to collect new and gently used musical instruments for children in foster care. The Moody Blues, who have sold in excess of 70 million albums worldwide and have been awarded 14 platinum and gold discs, are giving back to the Austin community by participating in the drive. Kids in a New Groove (K.I.N.G.) provides private music lessons and instruments to children in the Texas foster care system. As foster children move between placements, a K.I.N.G. teacher moves with each child, providing a consistent and stable mentor who a child can trust and count on. The K.I.N.G. program also helps children build life skills, accountability, goal-setting, and perseverance. Each foster child is given the chance to earn their very own musical instrument through dedication and hard work, as well as encouraged to perform at concerts and recitals. The instrument drive is sorely needed as recent budget cuts put Texas in 50th place for per capita funding of foster children. The instrument and donations drive will run from April 21-May 21, 2011 at the following locations:

STRAIT MUSIC: Please drop off donated instruments between April 21-May 21 at Strait Music’s North location (13945 Hwy. 183 North @ Hwy 620, Austin, TX 78717) and South location (2428 W Ben White Blvd @ S Lamar, Austin, TX 78704) Monday – Friday 9:30am – 7:00pm and Saturdays 9:30am – 5:30pm. For other donation arrangements, please email shanti@kidsinanewgroove.org, to arrange for KING to pick up the instrument.
To make a financial donation to the KING program, or to learn more about the organization, please visit www.kidsinanewgroove.org. For the most up-to-date news, follow Kids In A New Groove on Twitter (KidsGroove) and on Facebook. Check the Kids in a New Groove website for other local businesses participating in the drive, or click here to view our video: http://bit.ly/kingdrive

About the Artists:

Tameca Jones

Tameca Jones is a rare creature--an Austin, TX musician born and raised in the musical city. Since embarking on her mission to bring passion and soul to the jazz in 2008, she has taken the local jazz world by storm.She started in the Austin music scene in 2005 with the neo-soul band 8 Million Stories. As the band’s singer and composer of all the lyrics and melodies for their music, Tameca’s talent and stage presence made the band quickly rise to popularity. 8 Million Stories were regulars at Momo’s, Saxon Pub, Lucky Lounge, and Antone’s. In 2008, she decided to try her hand at jazz and quickly ascended up that genre's ladder. Tameca quickly made a name for herself as the Brown Sugar Queen or Tina Turner of jazz with her fierce style, soulful, honeyed voice. She's played with Austin's best jazz musicians--Ephraim Owens, Brannen Temple, Chris Maresh, Jake Langley, Peter Stoltzman, and Wayne Salzmann. Her shows at the Elephant quickly reach capacity and leave hungry music patrons in a line out the door. Not only a jazz vocalist, Tameca worked with the popular band Strings Attached as the lead vocalist for their Stevie Wonder, Zeppelin, and Beatles show. You can see Tameca perform at several venues in Austin like Z Tejas, Central Market, The Elephant Room and Carmen de la Calle, Swig, Kirby's Steakhouse, and Luna in San Antonio.

LISA TINGLE

She has been described as a "Female Robert Plant". Many have said she has the power of Janis Joplin and the soul of Aretha Franklin.

Tingle was born and raised in northern California by musician parents and grandparents. She moved to Los Angeles immediately out of high school and began gigging and recording. She landed a job as a "session vocalist" for the writers at Almo-Irving Publishing, part of A & M Records. Top writers hired Tingle to sing their songs to submit to everyone from Tina Turner to Dolly Parton. She was noted for her quick ear and ability to sing many different styles, accents, etc. After years of working "behind the scenes" in the studios, except for the occasional gig, she decided to move away from Los Angeles to Austin. There she would find more venues and opportunity to hone her craft.

Tingle moved to Texas and formed Black Pearl, a polished rock band. Her songs from that first CD caught the ears of a few t.v. execs and several were placed on episodes of "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Melrose Place".

Quickly gaining the attention of studios in Texas, Tingle began more work inside the publishing world again, singing for t.v. and radio commercials, films, and songwriters. After meeting Ray Benson, she was hired to sing on several soundtracks with Benson, including Jean-Claude Van Damme's "Universal Soldier". Then later, Tingle and Thiel both worked on Sandra Bullock's "Miss Congeniality" and Robert Rodriguez's "Spy Kids 3".

Read more here....

Strings Attached

I started Strings Attached as a genre-blurring collaboration with folk artists. Our vision was to fuse jazz and classical flavors with the contemporary singer/songwriter genre; to dress it up with a little different jewelry. From the classical tradition we borrowed the architectural precision of composition and arranging. From jazz we brought the performance ethic. The ability to abandon the score and make choices spontaneously, in response to each other and the present musical moment. And then there's that irresistable sense of"swing" - the thing that gets people dancing.

In the years since the band was formed, we backed Pearl Jam on Austin City Limits, been hired by P Diddy for NBC’s Tribute to the Troops, presented full collaboration concerts with locals like Ray Wylie Hubbard and Eliza Gilkyson and legendary songwriters such as Chip Taylor and James McMurtry.

KING interviewed on KVUE News

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:06:39 GMT

April 19, 2011, kvue.com, Austin, TExas

If your spring cleaning includes clearing out musical instruments, then there is a collection drive that will interest you. The classic rock group The Moody Blues is heading an effort to put musical instruments into the hands of Austin youngsters who are in foster care.

Shanti Grossman, the program director for Kids in a New Groove, spoke to KVUE.

To watch the interview visit KING's Video and Media page.

HAAM incourages local musicians to take part in KING's instrument drive

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:40:44 GMT

April 14
Austin, Texas -Timeless rock stars The Moody Blues are paying it forward throughout their Voyage 2011 Precious Cargo tour, by teaming up with Ear Candy Charity to host a week-long Instrument Drive to support Austin-based nonprofit, Kids in a New Groove. Throughout the week of April 21-28, community members can donate a new or slightly used instrument at Waterloo Records, Strait Music Locations, or at the band’s concert at Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater on April 28.

Supporters are encouraged to visit www.MoodyBluesToday.com or EarCandyCharity.org to learn how and where to donate an instrument, bid on a VIP package, purchase tickets to the show, or make a financial donation. For more information on the Moody Blues, including VIP ticket packages, merchandise, news and more visit www.MoodyBluesToday.com.

Fundraising in Action

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:44:05 GMT

Fundraising in Action with I Live Here, I Give Here
by Karyn Scott of Kids in a New Groove

Kids in a New Groove provides private music lessons to kids in foster care. We seek to enrich and enhance the lives of foster children by nurturing their hearts and minds through music. ILH, IGH helped us to let our donors know what they can bring to the life of a child when I appeared with Jamie Bahr, one of our teachers, on a Fox news interview arranged by ILH, IGH. It is rare for our donors to get to hear how personally they are touching the lives of foster kids; most of our kids can't show their faces in videos or show up at many events due to safety and other concerns on their behalf. When Jamie appeared on the news with me, she had just been to visit one of her fifteen-year old students who had been moved between over 20 placements in her lifetime. Jamie pointed out in the interview that the student's steady relationship with Jamie has been one of the only constant factors in the child's otherwise tumultuous life. Several donors reached out to me to let me know they were moved by Jamie's story and glad to know our program is about more than just providing music lessons; it is about helping a child learn to trust. We also were able to add 85 fans on Facebook based on the coverage - as our donors (both potential and current) went to our website after the broadcast and solidified their relationship with us by tying in with our Facebook page. Now we will be able to reach out to those new people on Facebook who were inspired by Jamie's story, and keep them posted on what we are doing in the future. It's great to be able to let donors know on an in-depth level that their support of our program is truly meaningful. Thanks ILH, IGH, for helping us reach out to them!

KING interviewed on Fox Austin's "Good Day" Morning Show

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:04:39 GMT

Austin, TX - myfoxaustin.com - Kids in a New Groove is a non-profit agency that provides music instruction to kids in the foster care.

The purpose of the program is to enrich and enhance the lives of foster children by nurturing their hearts and minds through music.

Music programs provide stimulation, motivation and install a sense of confidence and achievement in the students.

Karyn Scott writes her journey of launching Flyer Records and Kids In A New Groove in a guest blog spot on MotherhoodLater Blog

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:11:01 GMT

From Motherhoodlater.com January 28, 2011

What happens when a stay-at-home mom with two young children discovers a struggling rock singer at a party and thinks, “What if I could turn him into the next big American rock star?” Sounds like a crazy idea, and it was, but this is what happened when I heard a band named Alpha Rev play at a backyard party four years ago.

As an overwhelmed mom with two pre-schoolers in tow, I had no clue about the music business. I was a 39-year-old former attorney who had never played an instrument or seen a mixing boardundefinedand yet managing this band felt like what I was meant to do. At the time in 2006, Alpha Rev was only one of thousands of talented bands that called Austin home. The band’s lead singer and writer, Casey McPherson, was mostly living out of his beat-up car and I had no idea how to download songs to an iPod (we were an unlikely pair to say the least). I should point out that managing a rock band was nowhere near my comfort zone. In fact, most of my friends would point out that I’m the kind of person that considers making lasagna without burning it quite daring.

As I contemplated helping the band, I wondered if it was possible to become more daring after having children, instead of less? Still, it is one thing to go back to a responsible career, but quite another to find your passion in life. What was it about finding a struggling wanna-be rock star that made me want to find mine?

Casey McPherson was scruffy from top to bottom and didn’t exactly drip with star quality when he walked into a room, but when I heard him sing, I knew he had a special gift. Some crazy inner voice told me, “the world should hear him … and you should help.” That voice got louder when I learned from a band member that Casey’s father and brother had both committed suicide. Music was his way of coping, he explained. As it was mine… throughout my life, music had provided the constant soundtrack to all my joys and sadness. Even though I had no experience in the business, I had always been passionate about great music. I soon learned that in the Internet age, passion sometimes goes further than experience.

A few months later, I would become his manager and would start my own record label, Flyer Records (a name I coined with the idea that I would “throw it out there and see if it flies”). I never imagined how monumental this task would be, as I travelled with the band throughout the United States hoping to get them discoveredundefinedand find a reliable babysitter. Looking back, I was, a middle-aged mom with a temperamental computer and two rowdy kids hanging off my legs as I tried to make “office space” seem official in the laundry room. Yet, despite all odds, I succeeded: after flying across the country in 2007 for a New York City showcase that was the almost-magical musical culmination of our efforts, Alpha Rev got offered a deal with Disney juggernaut Hollywood Records. It was everything we dreamed of… but I soon began to question whether I had really been chasing Casey’s dreams, instead of my own.

This realization led me to start Kids in a New Groove (K.I.N.G.), a nonprofit mentoring organization that provides free private music lessons for kids in foster care. As Alpha Rev scored a top 10 hit video on the nationally televised VH1 countdown in June, 2010, and their catchy song “New Morning” became one of the most popular rock songs in America, my heart pulled me toward these kids who saw music lessons as their only hope. By the end of 2010, I had doubled the size of our program, and was amazed at the healing benefits music was bringing to children who are frequently shut out from the arts. I thought having a hand in a hit song would be exciting, but it paled in comparison to seeing the joy music can bring to foster kids.

Starting a new business helped me discover the power of an everyday mom to make a difference in the world by seizing a dream, no matter how crazy. While moms might be more conservative in their decision-making, we have to remember that motherhood is a leap of faith too; when I hug my kids at the end of each day, I know that journey was worth it. Finding your passion isn’t that differentundefinedsometimes you have to close your eyes and jump to find the right opportunity. Just as with having kids, you can’t plot out every hard day, every blind curve in the road. In retrospect, if I hadn’t decided to manage Alpha Rev, I wouldn’t be changing the lives of American foster kids.

It’s a New Year . . . what’s your leap?

To find out more about Kids in a New Groove, please visit http://www.kidsinanewgroove.org/. You can see Alpha Rev as a special guest on tour in 2011 with Bon Jovi; Alpha Rev's new record "New Morning" is available on itunes.

Davenport Wine and Spirits hosts event to benefit KING

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:45:00 GMT

Davenport Wine and Spirits has just announced that it will be hosting a Wine and Tequila tasting on February 24th from 5pm-8pm, with a percentage of all sales benefiting Kids In A New Groove. Appetizers will also be provided.

Davenport Wine and Spirits has been the leading purveyor of wines and spirits in the 78746 zip code in Austin Texas for over 10 years. Their store includes one of the finest temperature-controlled wine cellars in Central Texas featuring a comprehensive selection of premium global wines, champagnes, and ports. Additionally, they sell a large and comprehensive assortment of value-priced wines from every continent save Antarctica. They also offer an outstanding selection of unique vodkas, single-barrel bourbons, distinctive single malts, tequilas, cigars and adult beverage mixers.

Energy Xtreme’s Community Partner, Kids in a New Groove (KING), Hosts Successful Fall Fundraiser, While Changing Life of One Outstanding Student

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:26:08 GMT

Please join Energy Xtreme employees, who serve on the board and volunteer on a regular basis, in congratulating KING on a very successful Fall Fundraiser!

In August of this year we introduced you to Kids In A New Groove (KING), a 501c3 non-profit that provides private music instruction to kids in foster care by matching them with qualified music instructors. During the fall fundraiser KING raised funds to bring additional students into the program, and were able to change the life of one foster child in particular.

One of KING’s students went over and above what he has always been asked to accomplish in the KING program, by putting in extra time practicing, being attentive, and always being readily engaged with his teacher and the new tasks at hand. He was recently provided his very own guitar in reward for his hard work, and was asked to attend the fundraiser and perform on stage with Claire Small, and Alpha Rev’s Brian Batch.

In the car on his way back to his group home with the activities director, he fell asleep holding his guitar. She later wrote us saying, “The evening was magical for him, and I sincerely wanted to thank you guys for making his dreams come true. He often has a very flat affect, but his eyes lit up multiple times that night and he was filled with comments and questions on the way there and back. It was SO awesome to see him this way!”

Many foster kids, especially those living in group homes, do not get their moment to “shine,” and through the KING program, not only are these children getting the opportunity to do just that, but they are learning life skills, building self-confidence, and learning to trust again. KING is providing them with a mentor who is reliable and responsible, whom they can count on week in and week out to be there for them. Through this program, not only are the students bettering themselves, but KING is also bettering the community as a whole.

Energy Xtreme donated over $35,000 to this meaningful organization thus far in 2010. If you would like to donate, volunteer, or learn more about the KING program, please visit their website: www.kidsinanewgroove.org

For more information on Energy Xtreme please visit www.energyxtreme.net, also you can read about Energy Xtreme's involvement with other global and local community projects at http://energyxtreme.tumblr.com.

Backyard Buildings and More Gave Kids A New Groove

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:16:44 GMT

One of the things we are very proud of here at Backyard Buildings and More, besides our quality sheds and backyard products...is the ability to be able help such notable organizations such as Kids in a New Groove (KING).

KING, based in Texas, was able to raise over $60,000 due to charitable donations such as our wood play house and we'd like to congratulate them! Their program benefits foster children who have systematically been neglected. Charitable donations provided for KING to be able to offer the benefits of Music Education, and their program helps foster children gain confidence, self-esteem, and learn valuable life skills, benefiting not only each child but the community as a whole.

Please, take a moment, check out their website and read what an amazing organization this is.

For more information on Backyard Buildings and More please visit http://backyardbuildings.com/