A lot of people play music because it makes them feel cooler, but apparently it can make you smarter too. A new data-driven review by Northwestern University that was published July 20 in Nature Reviews Neuroscience journal strongly suggests that the neural connections made during musical training prime the brain for other aspects of communication. For example, children who are musically trained show stronger neural activation to pitch changes in speech and have a better vocabulary and reading ability than children who did not receive music training. The research also suggests that music could be extremely beneficial for children with learning disorders such as dyslexia. Read more on this research here, and to find out how you can held us to support music education, visit the Fender Outreach page.
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
- Tags:
- Lifestyle
- Fender Outreach
July 21 2010, 12:55pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Paul Rodgers Spearheads Fund-Raising Efforts for Kids Rock Free® Music Program
Legendary rock icon Paul Rodgers has announced that during both his solo and Bad Company concert tours this year, he will be donating rare personal stage items, autographed memorabilia and collectables for a nightly draw that will benefit the Fender Center’s Kids Rock Free national music education initiative. Rodgers and his wife Cynthia will also match all monies raised. “Without music in schools curriculum there is a void for young people to express, explore and experience music,” said Rodgers. “We are on a mission to set up this music program across the U.S. If not for music in my life as a young person who knows where I would have focused my energy.” The Kids Rock Free campaign provides free and low-cost music lessons to students age 7-17 and has serviced over 12,000 kids. Rodgers has dedicated himself to the program since 2003, donating his time, talent and finances. In an effort to expand the program nationwide and to help kids across the United States experience music at a very low cost or for free, the push is on to raise additional funding to make that experience a reality. Those who wish to participate may simply visit the merchandise booth during any concert date and purchase a $5 fundraising ticket. Two random drawings will be held each night, and the winner(s) will take home one (or two) items. Monthly drawings are also being held online on Rodgers’ website, PaulRodgers.com. Additionally, supporters of Kids Rock Free “text-to-donate” can make a $10 donation directly from their mobile phones by texting “ROCK” to 50555. A one-time $10 donation will be added to mobile bills; messaging and data rates may apply. Terms, help and other details can be found online at http://www.mgive.com/a. Click here for tour dates!
July 7 2010, 11:50am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Causemunity Features the Fender Music Foundation
Online cause community Causemunity is donating a percent of the purchases made through their website to the Fender Music Foundation. The company funnels these donations from their network of nearly 200 participating online merchants who have agreed to donate a portion of each bill to the charity of the customer’s choice. Causemunity links to a wide variety of places to shop at including iTunes, Target.com, Buy.com, Hot Topic, Urban Outfitters, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and Amazon.com. By making a purchase through http://www.fendermusic.causemunity.org, the Fender Music Foundation gets 1 to 15 percent of the purchase. The donation is made with no extra cost to the buyer.
Another convenient feature to Causemunity is its search tool. Users can easily search through almost all of their merchants for the lowest price or most popular items. According to Causemunity’s founder Wayne Liu, “At Causemunity, we are committed to providing long lasting benefits to non-profit organizations through micro-donations. Causemunity helps build long lasting affinity between the nonprofit organizations and their members. With Causemunity, a donation is no longer a once-a-year event; it becomes part of the daily lives of our users.” Moriah Harris-Rodger, executive director of the Fender Music Foundation, has been starting all of her online shopping at http://www.fendermusic.causemunity.org since the organization first set up the relationship at the end of March. “It’s easy to use,” she says. “I don’t have to sign in or use any special passwords or codes. I simply go to the site, click on the link to the store at which I wish to shop, and a percent of the purchase price is automatically transferred from that particular online store to our account on Causemunity. I hope all advocates of music education use this tool to actively give back so that we can give more people the opportunity to participate in making music.”
May 25 2010, 10:24am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Fender Center & Steve Miller Band Launch “Text-to-Donate” Campaign
Legendary rock icon Steve Miller will launch an innovative “text-to-donate” campaign to raise money and awareness for a national music education initiative during his upcoming summer concert tour. The “text-to-donate” campaign will benefit Kids Rock Free music programs at the Fender Center in Corona, Calif. The Kids Rock Free program provides free and low-cost music lessons to students age 7-17. KRF® has serviced over 12,000 kids and there are currently 800 waitlisted for the program. Miller, who is a Trustee for the Fender Center KRF program, is challenging his fans and other artists to donate money to expand the Kids Rock Free school nationwide. “Steve Miller’s incredible support for Kids Rock Free and CAMPAIGN 800 is nothing short of amazing, and we are so very grateful for all he’s doing for the children,” said Debbie Shuck, Executive Director of the Fender Center. Miller, a long time pioneer of music education, will take the “text-to-donate” message on the road with him as he makes his way across the United States this summer in support of his new album BINGO! In addition to promoting the campaign, the Steve Miller Band will welcome Kids Rock Free student Dillon Brown, a freshman at Santiago High School in Corona, Calif., to join them onstage at a handful of shows to perform the anthemic “Fly Like An Eagle.” Brown, who is a KRF guitar student, started five years ago when he was just 10-years-old and showcases what is possible when kids have access to music education. “In my opinion the Fender Museum and Music school is the best designed and operated community music program in the Country,” said Miller. “It was built for a reasonable amount of money, it is self- sustaining and it focuses on teaching music by involving parents and children in a way that inspires and rewards good work. That is why I have performed three benefit concerts for the school and donated substantially to the program. It works. It is the best community project I’ve ever seen and is a model for the rest of the country to emulate.”
Similar support has been provided by John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts through their AIC program, which has assigned mentor Jens Moe, an arts management and marketing expert to assist. Supporters of Kids Rock Free “text-to-donate” can make a $10 donation directly from their mobile phone by texting ROCK to 50555. A one-time $10 donation will be added to mobile bills. Messaging and data rates may apply. Visit mGive.com/A for terms and help. Tour Dates: 5/29 – Bossier City, LA (Harrah’s Louisiana Downs) 5/30 – Little Rock, AK (Riverfest) 6/2 – Portland, ME (Cumberland County Civic Center) 6/12 – Atlantic City, NJ (Hilton Hotel) 6/13 – Mashantucket, CT (MGM Grand) 7/2 – Clarkston, MI (DTE Energy Music Center) 7/3 – Chicago, IL (Taste of Chicago) 7/9 – Temecula, CA (Pechanga Resort) 7/10 – Santa Barbara, CA (Santa Barbara Bowl) 7/11 – Los Angeles, CA (Greek Theater) 7/14 – Woodinville, WA (Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery) 7/15 – Troutdale, OR (Edgefield Winery) 7/16 – Bend, OR (Les Schwab Amphitheater) 7/24 – Pittsburgh, PA (PNC Park (after game w/SD) 7/25 – Louiseville, KY (Churchill Downs Music Festival) 7/27 – Vienna, VA (Wolf Trap) 7/29 – Ashville, NC (Biltmore Estate) 7/30 – Alpharetta, GA (Verizon Wireless Amp. w/Peter Frampton) 7/31 – Orange Beach, AL (Amph at the Warf w/ Peter Frampton) 8/10 – West Allis, WI (WI State Fair) 8/12 – Boise, ID (Eagleriver Pavillion) 8/14 – Denver, CO (Mile High Music Festival) 9/17 – FENDER CENTER, Corona, CA (CAMPAIGN 800 Launch Concert) 9/18 – Irvine, CA (Jack Radio Show)
- Tags:
- Artist News
- Fender Front Row
- Fender Outreach
- Fender Center
- Kids Rock Free
- Steve Miller Band
- Text-to-Donate Campaign
May 24 2010, 5:43pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Bid on an Autographed Jeff Beck Signature Strat
Norman’s Rare Guitars is auctioning off a Jeff Beck Fender® Stratocaster® that’s been autographed by the legendary guitarist on eBay. Proceeds from the auction will benefit L.A.’s Midnight Mission, which provides transitional housing and services for the homeless, including education, job training and placement and drug and alcohol treatment. The auction closes on May 10 so place your bid now!
- Tags:
- Jeff Beck
- Artist News
- Fender Outreach
- Midnight Mission
- Normans Rare Guitars
- Jeff Beck Stratocaster signed
April 30 2010, 4:16pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
MIM Celebrates Grand Opening this Saturday
The Musical Instrument Museum, also referred to as The MIM, will celebrate its grand opening this Saturday. Since the palatial 190,0000-square-foot MIM is located just up the road from our Scottsdale headquarters, several Fender employees took a field trip earlier this week to get a sneak preview of the world-class museum of musical instruments. More than 3,000 instruments were already on display (more than 12,000 instruments and objects have been acquired by the museum), including an exhibit of Fender instruments that is housed upstairs in the “United States/Canada” gallery.
One of the vintage pieces in this Fender exhibit is this K&F lap steel guitar.
Fender also looms large downstairs in the “Artist Gallery” where “King of Surf Guitar” Dick Dale’s collection of rare Fender amplifiers sits. By tomorrow’s grand opening, Dale should have Eric Clapton’s “Brownie” 1956 Stratocaster guitar for a neighbor.
The keyboard in Dick Dale’s exhibit above is a Fender Contempo.
The Artist Gallery also showcases the Steinway Model Z upright piano that John Lennon used to create “Imagine.”
For MIM hours, ticket information and more, visit the MIM’s official website.
April 23 2010, 6:36pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Anthrax Bassist & Fender Donate Gear to 15 NYC Public Schools
Frank Bello to jam with elementary school students and help national nonprofit Little Kids Rock restore and revitalize music education in public schools.
While funding for music and arts programs are being cut across the country, notably in New York City, Little Kids Rock, a leading nonprofit provider of free musical instruments and free lessons in the United States, is teaming with Fender and rock stars to put music education back into public schools. On Friday, March 26, Anthrax bassist Frank Bello will donate Fender electric basses and amps to 15 NYC public city schools to complement the Little Kids Rock guitar classes that are already thriving. “We are so proud to have Mr. Bello as a champion of our cause,” said David Wish, Little Kids Rock founder and executive director. “With his help, and the continued support of our longtime partner Fender, we will be able to reach even more children in New York City. In addition to delivering a free Fender® electric bass and amp to the students of P.S. 11 Highbridge School, Mr. Bello will answer all of the kids’ questions and jam with them on some of their favorite songs. Little Kids Rock launched in New York City in 2002 and has delivered nearly a million dollars-worth of free instruments, curriculum and resources that currently reach thousands of New York City public school children. MARCH 30 UPDATE – Here’s a few photos from Bello’s visit. Clearly, a wonderful time was had by all.
March 30 2010, 2:18pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Anthrax Bassist & Fender Donate Gear to 15 NYC Public Schools
Frank Bello to jam with elementary school students and help national nonprofit Little Kids Rock restore and revitalize music education in public schools.
While funding for music and arts programs are being cut across the country, notably in New York City, Little Kids Rock, a leading nonprofit provider of free musical instruments and free lessons in the United States, is teaming with Fender and rock stars to put music education back into public schools. On Friday, March 26, Anthrax bassist Frank Bello will donate Fender electric basses and amps to 15 NYC public city schools to complement the Little Kids Rock guitar classes that are already thriving. “We are so proud to have Mr. Bello as a champion of our cause,” said David Wish, Little Kids Rock founder and executive director. “With his help, and the continued support of our longtime partner Fender, we will be able to reach even more children in New York City. In addition to delivering a free Fender® electric bass and amp to the students of P.S. 11 Highbridge School, Mr. Bello will answer all of the kids’ questions and jam with them on some of their favorite songs. Little Kids Rock launched in New York City in 2002 and has delivered nearly a million dollars-worth of free instruments, curriculum and resources that currently reach thousands of New York City public school children.
March 24 2010, 7:18am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Twilight Star Robert Pattinson Signs Tele
Norman’s Rare Guitars, an authorized Fender dealer in Tarzana, Calif., shared with us this picture of Twilight’s heartthrob Robert Pattinson with a Fender Telecaster. The actor stopped by the store last week to pick up a guitar of his own and then agreed to autograph this Tele to help raise money for Midnight Mission. Midnight Mission provides transitional housing and services for the homeless, including education, job training and placement and drug and alcohol treatment. Visit Norman’s Rare Guitars for more info.
- Tags:
- Lifestyle
- Fender Plugs
- Fender Outreach
- Fender Telecaster
- Midnight Mission
- Normans Rare Guitars
- Robert Pattinson
March 23 2010, 4:34pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Bello, Benante of Anthrax Host Australian Clinic
Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and bassist Frank Bello recently hosted the Bello Benante Bass Drum Clinic at Dream Music in Sydney, Australia. The band was visiting the land down under for the 2010 Soundwave festival. After an instructional period and then entertaining the crowd with stories from the road (if you’ve ever read Bello’s blog “Anthrax Anecdotes”, you already know they likely entailed a lot of boozing), Bello and Benante pulled a couple of kids from the audience to come up and jam with them. Thanks to our Fender/Squier team in Australia for pulling off this successful event!
- Tags:
- Artist News
- Events
- anthrax
- Fender Outreach
- Frank Bello
- Australia
- Charlie Benante
- Dream Music
- Fender clinic
- Squier clinic
March 3 2010, 10:53am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Celebrate Johnny Cash’s Birthday
Celebrate Johnny Cash’s birthday this Saturday at the Fender Center in Corona, Calif., home of the world’s only ongoing Johnny Cash museum exhibit. Cash’s daughter Cindy will open the celebration with the unveiling of her father’s latest gold record, followed by an exclusive listening party for Cash’s upcoming CD Ain’t No Grave with the man who engineered and recorded the album, David “Fergie” Ferguson. Fergie will be on hand to share his personal recollections about Cash and to answer questions about what it was like to create this historic CD with the legendary artist. The day-long event will also include a screening of the feature film “Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music” and a Q&A session with the movie’s producer Harry Wiland, a meet and greet with Walk the Line actor Larry Bagby, a concert with Cashd Out, free giveaways and a silent auction. Proceeds from the event benefit the Fender Center. Tickets are limited; reserve yours now!
February 24 2010, 3:13pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
The Who’s Daltrey Autographs Mad Catz Rock Band Controllers for Charity
The Who’s Roger Daltrey autographed a pair of Mad Catz Rock Band Wireless Wooden Fender Stratocaster Guitar controllers that are now being auctioned on eBay™ in support of Teenage Cancer Trust, a leading UK charity which helps young people fight cancer. The auction began yesterday and is expected to run until the evening of Feb. 10. To view or bid on the auction items, please use the following links: Auction 1 Auction 2 In addition, Mad Catz has pledged to donate 15% of all proceeds from the sale of its Rock Band Wireless Wooden Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controllers for Xbox 360® through its online UK and US retail destinations: store.gameshark.net (UK) & store.gameshark.com (US) between now and Feb. 10. Teenage Cancer Trust funds and develops specialist teenage cancer units within hospitals which enable young people to be treated together, by an expert team, in the best possible environment for their age group. Teenage Cancer Trust focuses on quality of life and aims to improve the chances of survival for young people with cancer. To further support Teenage Cancer Trust, Mad Catz also will be donating a range of its popular video game and entertainment accessories to all of the charity’s specialist units in the UK and pledge to continue supporting the important work carried out by Teenage Cancer Trust.
- Tags:
- Artist News
- Fender Outreach
- The Who
- Mad Catz Rock Band Wireless Wooden Fender Stratocaster
- Roger Daltrey
- Teenage Cancer Trust
February 5 2010, 11:48am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Anthrax Bassist Gives Back to his New York Community
Anthrax thrasher Frank Bello gave back to his New York musical community by participating in three-hour Road Recovery Master Class at the non-profit’s Manhattan headquarters and recording studios on Friday, Jan. 22. After handing out a box of his signature Squier® by Fender® Jazz Bass® guitars, the professional bassist worked with more than a dozen young adult participants enrolled in Road Recovery’s NYC Performance Workshops program. “Road Recovery is an amazing place that offers kids hope and guidance in their lives through music,” said Bello. “I will never forget the privileged feeling of talking and hanging out with these talented and creative kids who found the right path for their lives.”
Bello also donated one of his signature bass guitars to Road Recovery’s Meeting & Music, an outreach program for inmates that was recently launched with the New York State Department of Correctional Services at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, N.Y. For more on Road Recovery and Bello’s visit, click here.
February 1 2010, 9:46am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Fender Participates in the Dr. Phil Show
Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger with a student from Belvedere Middle School. Photo credit: CBS Television Distribution/Ron Jaffe This week on the Dr. Phil Show, the Dr. Phil Foundation presented a check for half a million dollars to Little Kids Rock to sponsor a new band-focused program called Little Kids Rock Across America. The program will hit 10 cities, teaching kids to play, form bands and make good music. To celebrate its kickoff, the show invited Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, All Time Low bassist Zack Merrick and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith to jam with students from Belvedere Middle School in California. For more information on the program, visit Little Kids Rock.
December 10 2009, 4:05pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
GRAMMY Museum Celebrates First Anniversary
This Sunday, the GRAMMY Museum will celebrate its first anniversary with a two-for-one ticket special, a Fender guitar giveaway, and a day full of fun activities! If you live close to downtown Los Angeles, make sure to stop by for music, crafts, curator demonstrations, contests, and more! Also make sure to check out the special exhibit Songs of Conscience, Sound of Freedom before it leaves at the end of the year. Those who become a Member of the GRAMMY Museum on its birthday will receive 20% off all levels of membership and an invitation to the Members Appreciation Brunch at 11 a.m.
December 2 2009, 12:20pm
1 2
