Chinese musician aims to help US kids

Keys of Inspiration, a program run by the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, aims to reach 30,000 low-income children in 80 public schools across the United States by 2020.

The music intervention program, which started in 2013 with only two schools and 300 students, plans to have 40 schools enroll in the program in the US as of September, reaching more than 6,000 students, according to Leszek Barwinski-Brown, CEO of LLIMF.

"Utilizing a strategic expansion plan, KOI will reach 30,000 students in 80 schools by 2020," Barwinski-Brown was cited as saying in a recent news release.

The KOI piano lab provides students with a safe, creative outlet in school and gives them a chance to build self-confidence, develop a drive for excellence and a sense of achievement, says world-known Chinese pianist Lang Lang.

"At LLIMF, we believe that all children should have access to music education, regardless of their background," he says. "Most students enter the program with no prior knowledge of music or piano."

"There have been many students who began the program speaking no English, but in the KOI classroom, everyone speaks one language: music," Lang says. "In the piano lab, they gain the confidence to communicate with their peers. There are also cases of students who didn't like coming to school, or were struggling. Now, they're star students."

The KOI is one of the music education programs of the LLIMF, founded in 2008 by Lang, to educate, inspire and motivate the next generation of music lovers and performers worldwide. Other programs include 101 Pianists, Young Scholars and Play It Forward.

With 101 Pianists, the foundation brings together 100 young piano students from one city for a unique social music performance with Lang. To date, this program has inspired over 150,000 audiences in 18 cities worldwide.

Every two years, LLIMF welcomes a new class of Young Scholars to the LLIMF family. The students, selected by Lang and his teacher Gary Graffman from hundreds of applicants, receive mentorship, tutelage and unique performance opportunities.

The scholars are also encouraged to participate in the Play It Forward program, which brings the healing properties and joys of music and art to groups of all ages and abilities in their community.

On Oct 10, LLIMF will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a benefit gala in Manhattan, New York City. Lang will lead a performance featuring the foundation's young scholars during the gala.

Xinhua