Since 2003 the Santa Barbara Education Foundation has been Keeping the Beat – raising funds to pay for music instructors and over 1,350 instruments for local public school music programs.

You can help Keep the Beat for Santa Barbara’s students with these upcoming events!

Join the Santa Barbara Education Foundation and 99.9 KTYD Morning Mojo’s Lin Aubuchon and Bill Pesso at the Uptown Lounge to celebrate music in our public schools. Local favorite, OutOfTheBlue will be playing classic rock hits. Make a cash donation of $25 or more or donate an instrument to have an opportunity to jump up on stage and sing live karaoke with the band.

Join the Santa Barbara Education Foundation and 99.9 KTYD Morning Mojo’s Lin Aubuchon and Bill Pesso at Zodo’s – Bowling & Beyond to raise funds for music in our public schools.

Pay to Play a song on the radio with a cash donation of $25 or more or the donation of a musical instrument. All donors will be entered in a drawing for two tickets to a show of their choice at the Santa Barbara Bowl courtesy of Goldenvoice.

We’ll have live performances from local musicians and aspiring musicians from Santa Barbara school music programs. Come and join the fun!

How you can help Keep the Beat for Santa Barbara’s students!

Make a Donation

Make a donation to Santa Barbara Education Foundation’s Keep The Beat program today! You gift will go towards the upkeep of instruments donated local school music programs.

DONATE TO KEEP THE BEAT

Donate an Instrument

Do you have an instrument gathering dust? Donate your used instruments to put it directly into the hands of a student in a local school music program. Contact us by email or call 805-284-9125 to donate today.

Donate an Instrument

 

Thank you to our Keep the Beat Radiothon sponsors!

    

 

For information on sponsoring our 2019 Keep the Beat Radiothon with KTYD click here.

 

You probably know that music education has been proven to raise self-esteem and hone creativity. You probably know that music education develops critical thinking, creative problem solving, and teamwork. And you probably know music education helps students achieve in other academic areas such as science, math, and reading.

But did you know that music majors are the most likely group of college grads to be admitted to medical school? Research reveals strong correlations between quality music education in school and academic achievement. Not only that, music keeps students engaged in school and less likely to drop out. These are just a few of the reasons the Santa Barbara Education Foundation believes so strongly in preserving music education in the schools.

In 2003, devastating budget cuts threatened the elementary instrumental music program. Thanks to the response from local and regional funders, the Santa Barbara Education Foundation was able to raise over $500,000 to keep music education in Santa Barbara’s public schools.

Today all K-6 students are receiving one 30-45 minute lesson each week with a credentialed music teacher with curriculum’s that align with the California Standards for Visual and Performing Arts.

Today our Santa Barbara public school children receive:

  • K-2: Orff based instruction in music, singing, rhythm, and movement.
  • 3rd grade: Recorder
  • 4th grade: Violin
  • 5th grade: Instrument of choice. Students may continue on violin, switch to another string instrument, or begin on a band instrument.
  • 6th grade: Students will continue to play the instrument they chose in 5th grade.

             

With support from the City of Santa Barbara.