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Kid Pan Alley

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Kid Pan Alley
Company typeNon-profit organization
IndustryNonprofit, Education
Founded1999
HeadquartersWashington, Virginia
Key people
Paul Reisler, Founder
Websitewww.kidpanalley.org

Kid Pan Alley is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, Virginia, founded by Paul Reisler of the band Trapezoid in 1999 that provides group songwriting residency programs to children in schools across the United States.[1] Kid Pan Alley's mission is "to inspire and empower children to work together to become creators of their own music and to rekindle creativity as a core value in education".[2] Reisler guides the students through the group songwriting process and together they complete the songs in two class periods.[3]

Kid Pan Alley instructors work with students as they brainstorm ideas, vote on the song's subject, and create lyrics and melodies with the instructors until the song is completed. Each class performs their song in front of their school and community at the end of the week.[4] The program is known for promoting community awareness of the arts while creating opportunities for children to explore their creativity through songwriting in a school setting.[5] They have released four compilation studio albums of songs written with children including Tidal Wave Of Song in 2001, Kid Pan Alley Nashville in 2006, I Used To Know The Names Of All The Stars in 2008 and One Little Song Can Change the World in 2017. These albums feature artists such as Amy Grant, Sissy Spacek, Raul Malo, Delbert McClinton, Kix Brooks & Cracker.[6] Kid Pan Alley has written over 2,700 songs with over 60,000 children and their albums have won two Parent's Choice Awards,[7] a WAMMIE award,[8] a NAPPA Gold Award, and have also received one Grammy Award Nomination.[9]

History

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Kid Pan Alley started in 1999 in Rappahannock County, Virginia, when Reisler conducted the first Kid Pan Alley residency with a local elementary school where he composed over 50 songs with 600 children.[10] Shortly after, Reisler invited professional musicians from the county to record 19 of the 50 songs, in their own style, to be featured on Kid Pan Alley's first album release, Tidal Wave Of Song. In the following years, Kid Pan Alley expanded to surrounding counties and states. Reisler chose the name Kid Pan Alley as a play on words derived from New York City's Tin Pan Alley.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Snowiss, Mark. "Music Inspires Embattled DC Students". voanews.com. Voice Of America. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  2. ^ Lucas-Zenk, Carolyn. "Kohala students make music with pros". West Hawaii Today. West Hawaii Today. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  3. ^ McCollum, Michale. "Vinewood Elementary School fourth-graders learn basics of songwriting with Kid Pan Alley". Lodi News. Lodinews.com. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  4. ^ Smith, Shaun. "Kid Pan Alley lets students become songwriters". Shore News Today. Shore News Today. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  5. ^ Singh, Nadia. "Alleghany Highlands Arts Council brings the arts to learning". WDBJ7. WDBJ7. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  6. ^ Montagne, Renne. "Songs from the Classroom to 'Kid Pan Alley'". npr.org. National Public Radio. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Kid Pan Alley". Parents-choice.org. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
  8. ^ "Washington Area Music Association (WAMA)". Wamadc.com. 2009-02-15. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
  9. ^ "Kid Pan Alley Album Features Bogguss, Brooks, Malo". Country Music Television. August 29, 2006. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  10. ^ "Writing Songs with Kids, Paul Reisler and Kid Pan Alley | Melinda Caroll presents Music for Girls". Mcm4g.com. 2014-06-20. Retrieved 2015-08-24.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ "Kid Pan Alley | AM Carley, Writer". Amcarley.com. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
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