WARD-BRODT STAGES YAMAHA JOC CONCERT.

NINE GIFTED YOUNG composers from the U.S., Canada, and Japan, ranging in age from eight to 15, brought down the house on Sunday, September 27, at the Mitby Theater in Madison, Wisconsin. The inspiring 1998 Yamaha Junior Original Concert (JOC), entitled "For Kids' Sake," was presented by Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) and co-sponsored by Ward-Brodt Music Company.

By the time the last jubilant "Bravo!" was shouted for these talented musicians and their original compositions, $3,000 had been raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County. The organization, which pairs over 550 children of single parents with caring responsible adults each year, earmarked the funds for music education programs and products for students, particularly keyboard purchases and music lessons.

These "Young Ambassadors of Music" received high praises from YMES National Administration Manager Cheryl Landru. "Programs such as the Junior Original Concerts serve as a vital outlet for our students' wonderful creativity," she said. "Performance of original works is an extremely important part of the total creative process. This concert was an exhilarating experience for the children, and very exciting for those of us in the audience."

Nancy Kanter, director of education at Ward-Brodt, a family-based Wisconsin business since 1927, shares Landru's enthusiasm. "As long-standing members of this community, we were happy to join with Yamaha to help Big Brothers Big Sisters. It was delightful to bring those talented young composers to Madison, and it was good business, too."

Media coverage of the event resulted in at least one immediate enrollment in Ward-Brodt's YMES program. "A parent saw a television segment and called to immediately enroll her child, saying, `This is the coolest thing I've ever heard of!'" Kanter stated.

About a million children in 40 countries are enrolled in Yamaha Music Schools, and the outstanding works performed at this JOC were selected from thousands of entries submitted to Yamaha Music Foundation in Japan. Since the first JOC, held in Japan in 1972, concerts have been held in 28 countries. YMES promotes music globally with the Yamaha philosophy, "Music knows no national boundaries." The Yamaha system utilizes a comprehensive concept that emphasizes singing, keyboard activity, and creativity. YMES students not only learn to play instruments, they also learn how to study--and create--music.

Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson declared the day of the concert "Young Composers Day." He issued a proclamation acknowledging, "Students with coursework and experience in music score an average of 89 points higher on the SAT compared to students without arts instruction, and students who participate in skill-building music education programs can also dramatically increase their performance in reading and math."

The event again demonstrated Ward-Brodt's commitment to sharing the importance of early childhood music education. The Yamaha school at Ward-Brodt creates a home in the community for music education as well as for purchases. "Most kids start the program when they are four or five years old, so we see the parents involved at the beginning of sharing a lifetime of musical experience with their kids," explained Kanter. "The families come into the store every week for the lessons, and as a result we develop a relationship with them. Typically, families make two keyboard purchases while they are with us, usually buying their first keyboard for about $300 to $500 and then purchase an acoustic or high-end digital piano a few years later. That--plus print materials, leases or purchases of other instruments for another child in the band or taking music lessons--connects the whole family to the store. They wouldn't think of going anywhere else."