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Rodgers Townsend designed a campaign for Pianos for People that recently won several awards at the Advertising Clubs ADDY Awards, including a Gold Award for a short film
featuring Royce Martin, directed by my son Nate Townsend.
It
expresses the fundamental philosophy of Pianos for People - that music can be an invaluable, emotional resource in life, so we must work to make it more available to more people. It's that simple.
The interactive 'thank you notes'
website below was part of that campaign, and will allow you to hear directly from some of our students why your support matters.
Thank you, friends.
Tom Townsend
Founder & President
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THANK YOU NOTES
FEEL THE FLOW
When Khyla hits the keys, she feels something deep inside.
Hear Khyla and other students say thank you to the
donors and supporters who make their free pianos and lessons possible.
And thank you Rodgers Townsend.
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NEW GRAND PIANO IN TUNE WITH GROWTH
Pianos for People has taken delivery of a beautiful new grand piano, adding an important resource to the free piano school.
Terry Hammer, owner of St. Louis based
vintage license plate seller
Shoplicenseplates.com was pleased to announce the donation of a Henry F. Miller Baby Grand Piano valued at just under $10,000.00 to Pianos for People.
The Free Piano School on Cherokee, which caters to more than 130 students for regular, weekly lessons and workshops, has more than tripled in size since it opened in October 2014. Some of our more advanced students are hungry for the experience of practicing on a grand piano, and our refurbished piano annex ("The Piannex") now serves as a second group teaching and event space, room to refurbish our pianos, as well as a private practice studio for students and the
broader community.
Thank you Terry!
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Dedicated student Hadassah plays our new baby grand. Photo: Daniel Hill, RFT
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SUPER THEORY SATURDAY A SUPER DAY
On Saturday March 3rd, every space was filled with students, activity, teachers and our newly launched Piano Parents Organization (PPO). There were over 60 young people engaged in workshops, games, craft and the ever popular Pizza Party!
These bi-annual community events reinforce what the students learn in a fun and engaging way.
During the Pizza Party, everyone was rocking out to one of our Music Production student's beats - listen to an excerpt of
Members of our new Piano Parents Organization, and Aaliyah our Saturday Intern
Scenes from our recent Super Theory Saturday
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FERGUSON FLOURISHING
In October 2016, we opened our first satellite studio in Ferguson. With ongoing and generous support from the Siteman Family Foundation, we now teach two afternoons a week in Ferguson, adding Music Production Workshops (Garageband) to our group and private lessons.
And for the first time, we will be offering a week-long Free Summer Music Camp in Ferguson, in addition to our Cherokee programs.
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Marquan and his new iPad
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Marquan is
14 years old and he enrolled in both lessons and music production workshops at the Ferguson Studio.
Marquan, a student at KIPP, is very studious and enjoys music production so much that he saved up his money to buy his very own iPad.
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Ferguson Holiday Recital December 2017
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SPEAKING OF GROWTH...
With a growing student body, we were in need of a waiting area for our kids and families. Over the past couple of months we have been refurbishing our dingy basement into a new waiting room, practice space and storage area - and it is a total transformation!
Our Development Co-ordinator and Teacher, Amy Seibert worked with teacher Hannah Herum to catalogue and organize the abundance of music that has been donated to us. This area now also has an accessible MUSIC LIBRARY. Students can borrow or even take and keep music of many different varieties and levels.
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Our new waiting room, practice area and music resource library
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WHY I LIKE PIANO SAFARI!
We also received a generous donation to ensure that each child has their very own music method-book to keep, which has made an enormous difference to students arriving prepared for lessons, pride and the ability to work ahead if kids feel ready. Read below why our students love Piano Safari!
Thank you to our generous donor.
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UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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EVENTS
Friday April 6, 6:30 - 11:00
Shrewsbury Community Centre
5200 Shrewsbury Ave
$25. suggested donation at door
Saturday June 2, 6:00 pm
ROCK & ROLL TRIVIA NIGHT
A collaboration with Art Holliday, KSDK
The Heights Community Center
Tickets $40. available end April
Sunday October 28th
SAVE THE DATE
Evening of 100 Fingers
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PFP STUDIOS CALENDAR
Saturday April 7, 1:30 - 3:00 pm
FAMILIES FOCUS GROUP
Friday April 27th, 6-8 pm
Tentative date TBC
PIANO SLAM
Cherokee Studios
Saturday April 28th
PFP ADJUDICATED FESTIVAL
Cherokee Studios
Saturday May 4th
SPRING RECITAL FERGUSON
333 N Florissant Rd, 63153
Saturday May 12th
SPRING RECITALS
Cherokee Studios
June 11th - July 29th
FREE SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS
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PIANOS FOR PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Since we last met...links to some or our news
Kayia Smith, Piano School Director in St. Louis American
"I know that I'm touching lives and making a difference in the community."
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You make a difference too.
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