What if there was a single activity that would improve brain functioning so dramatically
that it actually made students better at all school subjects?
What if there was something that adults could do that would help them maintain and even
improve their memories?
What if this one activity even made people kinder and more cooperative?
And what if that one activity was also a beautiful artistic expression?
One so powerful that people referred to it as the language of the soul.
People of moving us to tears or smiles of great joy, well, there is.
Hi everybody, my name is Pete Welty.
My name is Peter Johnson.
My name is Ralph Burnett and we are the executive officers of the Cyrus Foundation, an educational
non-profit organization.
The stated purpose of the Cyrus Foundation is this, to improve lives and create community
through education and life-changing experience.
We have found that one of the most impactful educational experiences a person can have is
that of learning to play a musical instrument.
There has been an overwhelming amount of research in recent years that indicates that learning
music, especially at a young age, actually improves brain function.
Makes people better citizens and equips them to be creative problem solvers and leaders.
Scientists now believe that playing a musical instrument or singing is perhaps the only
human activity that utilizes both hemispheres of the brain and multiple regions of the brain
simultaneously.
This creates neural pathways between the two hemispheres, giving a person the ability to
more readily use both sides of the brain when engaged in other activities in life.
Despite this research, our schools in California are cutting back in all arts education, including
music, because of the lack of funding.
This is indeed a sad development.
Instead of the funds aren't there, what else can our schools do?
Instead of seeing this as a problem, we are seeing it as an opportunity to bring music
education into our broader communities, where it can be nurtured and supported by local
artists, families and businesses.
We are excited to announce that our pilot program, Cyrus Music Foundation in Northern
California, begins operation January 1st, 2017.
It's an amazing place where music students can get private lessons on the instrument
of their choice.
Give classes to learn music reading and music theory, participate in bands and live performances,
and so much more.
We even have a really great recording studio where students can learn the art of recording,
editing, producing and mixing.
These amazing opportunities will be offered on a sliding scale, based on what an individual
or family can afford, as we will be continuously building a scholarship fund to offset financial
struggles so that everyone can now afford to learn to play a musical instrument.
We've come to believe that a program like this is much more than just music lessons
as we previously understood them, but more like music mentoring, where we take an individual
with an interest in music and get to know them personally and work with their unique
qualities to help them become a better musician and a better human being, while participating
in a unique community setting, sharing their gifts and cheering on fellow learners.
As we launch our pilot program, we are also developing a template that we can use to then
reproduce this program in multiple locations wherever there is the need.
We anticipate that we will be very busy in the coming years establishing Cyrus Music
Foundation locations all over the country, and perhaps some places outside our American
borders.
Also, we believe that this template can be used to establish other programs that will
teach and encourage other art forms, such as dance, visual arts, and theater.
Today we are launching a critical fundraising campaign here on Indiegogo in an effort to
raise $50,000 in order to give this new program a running start.
The need is huge, and the time is now.
These funds will go to work immediately to scholarship students who couldn't otherwise
afford it, as seed money for ongoing fundraising efforts, and to purchase necessary instruments
and equipment to operate our program.
With a gift of $100 to $300, you will receive a t-shirt with our super cool logo on it and
our first annual compilation CD of studio sessions celebrating special artists and students.
With a gift of $300 to $500, you will receive a t-shirt and a hat with our super cool logo
on it and our first annual CD.
And with a gift of $500 or more, you will receive a t-shirt, a hat, and a coffee mug
with an alternative logo design on it plus our first annual CD.
Our scholarship fund is key to the success of the Cyrus Music Foundation, so please give
as generously as you can today and spread the word to everyone you know to get on board
as we work to accomplish this goal.
You are also invited to become one of our evergreen sponsors with a monthly gift by
visiting our website at CyrusFound.org and signing up as a monthly contributor.
So thanks for watching and thank you for your support.
