NEWSLETTER MARCH 2017

PIANOS FOR PEOPLE 
* Inspiration  * Education * Community * Enrichment


In the past few months, we have reached several important milestones across
our four pillars,  as we work to break down the financial barriers that prevent many people from accessing the well-documented benefits of playing the piano.  

But truly, the greatest accomplishment we can know is the face of a child from an under-privileged household when he or she first discovers that they do have a talent; that they do have something to contribute, that they indeed are blessed with a gift they can share with the community, 
and world, around them. 
 
Thank you, to our community and valuable supporters. We could never do this without you. 


INSPIRATION:  FREE PIANOS 
We have now delivered over 190 pianos to people, community organizations and underserved schools in and around St Louis


This warm and loving family has 3 biological children, 3 that are adopted, and 2 for which they are the legal guardians.  They recently received a piano in the home from Pianos for People which has become the centerpiece of the family.   Six of their children also come for lessons at Pianos for People, and they declared that  "lesson day is their favorite day of the week."         
        
Tricia Dannenfeldt is a former music music educator of 10 years.  While teaching music in a K - 8 school in 2011, she tried to break up a fight in the classroom and was hit on the back of the head,  leaving her with Traumatic Brain Injury and ongoing disability.  Music is her "greatest love" and Pianos for People is so honored to bring comfort and joy back into her life with a refurbished piano -
- hers to keep forever. 

Thank you to all of our piano donors and recipients for your inspiration! 


EDUCATION:  FREE LESSONS
 We now have over 100 regular, weekly students at our flagship Cherokee piano school, and opened our first satellite studio in Ferguson. 


Hosted in a beautifully refurbished classroom at the Ferguson First Baptist Church, which came complete with 10 Baldwin pianos, we are working closely with the local Boys' & Girls' Clubs and community to provide free lessons, and have been embraced with enthusiasm. 



At our WINTER RECITAL the
students demonstr ated 
progress, confidence and poise -  and played on a beautiful Ya maha 
 6 foot grand  piano
 (donated and shipped by GRAHAM NASH
   
... yes of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young)

Yamaha Grand donated by Graham Nash 
 
COMMUNITY: EVENTS
National attention, a prestigious award and supporter news 



NBC's Sunday morning program, "Sunday Today," sent a crew to St. Louis for two days to film our deliveries as well as our school. They ran the story nationally in December, bringing positive attention to our work and St Louis.  

Royce the Pianist at the St Louis Arts Awards

The Arts & Education Council presented Pianos for People with the 2017 ARTS INNOVATOR AWARD  at the St Louis Arts A wards in Janua ry.  The extrao rdinarily talented Royce Martin, who is also a piano recipient and student of Pianos for People, wowed the audience. 


Piano School Director, Kayia Smith plays a duet with a student

We have been working to increase our base of support  
so we can continue to meet the demand for music in the lives  
of those we serve. We would like to acknowledge the
following major contributors and thank our many
 
PIANOS FOR PEOPLE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS

Anonymous (2)
Alex Townsend Memorial Foundation
Arts & Education Council
City of St. Louis - Board of Aldermen Grant (for Free Lesson Program)
Crawford Taylor Foundation (for Free Lesson Program)
Sheena Duncan & Mark Prendergast
Emerson Electric
Hortense Hogan Charitable Trust
Incarnate Word Foundation
Krausse-Papendick Fund of the St Louis Community Foundation (for the Ferguson Studio)  
Mastercard
The Pettus Foundation
Janice Rohan & Phil Hulse
The Siteman Family Foundation (for the Ferguson Studio)
Patrick & Mary Sly
Trio Foundation of St Louis (for Free Lesson Program)
The Regional Arts Commission (for Free Lesson Program)



ENRICHMENT: PIANO SLAMS, SUPER THEORY SATURDAY AND MORE



Our PIANO SLAMS  and enrichment events like our SUPER THEORY SATURDAY 
and Craft Days just get more and more popular. The creativity, confidence and enth usiasm our families show is what drives us.    PS Our "house-band", Michael Manchisi, Billy Greene, John Wallach and Tom Townsend rocks - but the "guest" piano players steal the show!  


Musical Mobiles made at the Super Theory Saturday and Craft Day, attended by over 35 children and families in the community.   




Working together to decorate an old abandoned piano rescued from an alley. 
Coming again soon!  Our Free Summer Music Camps, including the popular Turn Up Your Talent - Musical Production Camp.  

Please help us continue to meet the demand in our community for quality pianos, lessons, events and enrichment. 
Pianos for People
(314) 285 5852
sheena@pianosforpeople.org