Virtual School of the Arts Partners with Music Industry All-Stars to Bring Music Education Back to the Schools
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (PRWEB) December 16, 2014 -- With music and the arts disappearing from schools nationwide, Virtual School of the Arts (VSA) is stepping forward to bring music education back to our schools. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization was founded in 2014 by renowned drummer and songwriter Chad Chapin (Ben Folds, Casting Crowns, dcTalk).
VSA provides scholarships for music lessons and the arts to inner city youth and students who do not have access to the arts. All lessons are one on one and taught via Skype with top instructors from all over the world. Due to school budget cuts and/or lack of finances, VSA bridges the gap between aspiring students and professional instructors with significant music industry experience.
"VSA knows the importance of the arts in schools,” says Chapin. "Studies show that schools that have lost their arts programs have seen their grades drop, and students who take lessons in the arts are more likely to succeed and go on to become leaders. VSA specializes in mentoring the next generation of leaders who in return will lead others. Our mission is to give every student access to music and art instruction in order to empower them for the future.”
Chapin started drum lessons at the age of 7, and he was hooked. Shortly after high school, Chapin moved to Nashville to pursue his dream of playing music. Fifteen years later, Chad has toured with award-winning and chart-topping artists, including Ben Folds, Casting Crowns, dcTalk, Tait, Rachael Lampa and many more. Along the way, Chapin has received a Grammy nomination, won a Dove Award and 12 BMI Music Awards, and earned countless Gold and Platinum records.
VSA has amassed an impressive list of music industry leaders to serve as instructors, including Garrett Goodwin (Carrie Underwood), Andy Williams (Casting Crowns), Richard Scott (Addison Road, Francesca Battistelli, Matt Maher), Matt Butler (Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Kirk Franklin, Yolonda Adams, Newsong), Joe Rickard (Red), Johannes Greer (Ligion, Mink, Bubba Sparxxx), Ty Smith (SHeDAISY, Trisha Yearwood, Ronnie Milsap, Easton Corbin), Brandon Young (John Hiatt), Rachael Lampa (solo artist), Jaclyn North (American Idol Finalist, Texaco Country Showdown’s Best New Act in Country Music 2011), Aynsley Martindale (Nashville Symphony), Ryan Greenawalt (Anthem Avenue, Lady Antebellum, Josh Turner), Tiffany Sweeley (“Chicago” - Broadway Musical, Dionne Warwick, Kirk Talley), Hailey Steele (NBC’s "The Voice”), Annie Clements (Sugarland), Deanie Richardson (The Chieftains, Vince Gill), Jordan Hester (Kenny Chesney, Nick Carter, Billy Curington, Tait), Tim Rosenau (TobyMac, Kirk Franklin, Relient K), DJ Lipscomb (Steven Curtis Chapman, Geoff Moore, Matt Maher), Evan Weatherford (Mandisa, Natalie Grant, Tait), Dylan Williams (Joy Williams, John McLaughlin), Dustin Ransom (Jars of Clay, Brandon Heath, Andy Davis, Matt Maher), Jonathan Rogerson (Brandon Young), Ellen Angelico (Mustang Salley), Dave Denton (Mark Harris, 4HIM, Truth), Brandon Bagby (Meredith Andrews, Cory Lamb, SHeDAISY), Andrew Higley (Ben Folds, Bo Diddley, Green Horns, Brendan Benson), Sammy Hudson (Everclear), Steve Rossi (Peter Frampton, Taylor Dayne, Cinderella, A&E, Nickelodeon, Discovery Channel), Ellen Angelico (Mustang Sally), Ken Rarick (Michael Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, Madonna, Michael W. Smith, Cher), Annie Clements (Sugarland), Zach Casebolt (Black Mozart Ensemble, Futureman, The Browns), Adrian Walther (Natalie Grant, All Star United) and Nathan Gehri (John Hiatt).
At an annual cost of $1,800 per student, VSA needs the support of those that support the arts. Donations are tax deductible.
To see VSA in action, click here for a short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX58ZH0pNEI
For more information about Virtual School of the Arts, visit http://www.virtualschoolofthearts.org.
Brian Mayes, Nashville Publicity Group, http://www.nashvillepublicity.com, +1 (615) 771-2040, [email protected]
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