Little Big Town Kicks Off Music In Our Schools Tour

This year, six schools will receive a $2,500 grant from Give A Note Foundation, which will also be matched by the CMAs.

Written by Lauren Laffer
Little Big Town Kicks Off Music In Our Schools Tour
Five-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town and Mickey Mouse kick off the Music In Our Schools Tour by surprising Wadsworth High School Choir during a Disney Performing Arts music workshop at Saratoga Springs Resort Performance Hall at Walt Disney World; Photo Credit: Greg Newton

Music education in schools is vastly important to many country stars who hope to keep the subject in schools worldwide. To help show the importance of music education, Little Big Town teamed up with the Give A Note Foundation to embark on the fourth annual Music In Our Schools – Music Inspires Tour, which kicked off on Friday (Jan. 13) at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Performance Hall.

The award-winning quartet surprised students from Ohio’s Wadsworth High School as they finished a Performing Arts workshop.

Five-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town pose for a selfie with Radio Disney Country correspondent Savannah Keyes and the Wadsworth High School Choir after the group surprised the choir at a Disney Performing Arts music workshop at Saratoga Springs Resort Performance Hall at Walt Disney World; Photo Credit: Greg Newton

Five-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town pose for a selfie with Radio Disney Country correspondent Savannah Keyes and the Wadsworth High School Choir after the group surprised the choir at a Disney Performing Arts music workshop at Saratoga Springs Resort Performance Hall at Walt Disney World; Photo Credit: Greg Newton

“Music education is a right of every student,” said the band’s Karen Fairchild, who serves on the CMA Foundation Board of Directors. “It helps them develop creativity and self-expression. It builds skills like collaboration and critical thinking that help them succeed in life. For me, my music teacher in high school pushed me out on stage for the very first time to sing a solo, and it changed my life. So I’m very grateful for music education and the power that it had on my career.”

The appearance from the group was an inspiring moment for the young teens, who had just completed the “Disney Sings” workshop, where students are given real world experience and record a portion of a Disney film soundtrack.

Five-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town kick off the Music In Our Schools Tour by surprising the Wadsworth High School Choir during a Disney Performing Arts music workshop at Saratoga Springs Resort Performance Hall at Walt Disney World; Photo Credit: Greg Newton

Five-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town kick off the Music In Our Schools Tour by surprising the Wadsworth High School Choir during a Disney Performing Arts music workshop at Saratoga Springs Resort Performance Hall at Walt Disney World; Photo Credit: Greg Newton

“I cried when I saw them walk in. I’m a really big Country Music fan, and so they have been some of my idols. I love listening to their music,” said Claire Doyle, choir student at Wadsworth High School.

Music In Our Schools – Music Inspires Tour was founded by the Give A Note Foundation, an affiliate of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). The program has grown exponentially in the past several years with the help of Disney Performing Arts, Radio Disney, Radio Disney Country and the CMA Foundation.

“Thanks to our generous partners who have worked tirelessly with Give a Note,” said Jane Mell Balek, Give a Note CEO, “the Foundation has been able to bring music into the lives of more students every year. In its five years, Give a Note has provided over $1.2 million in grants to reach more than 45,000 students in under-served communities across the United States. And we cannot wait to see the incredible impact this year’s Music In Our Schools Tour will have.”

Students from Wadsworth High School, Ohio choir group, pose with five-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town and Mickey Mouse as they kick off Music In Our School Tour at Disney. (L-R)  Jane Mell Balek, Give a Note CEO; Terry Dola, Disney Performing Arts vice president; Karen Fairchild; Jimi Westbrook; Kalyn Davis, school choir director; Philip Sweet; Kimberly Schlapman; Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO; and Radio Disney Country correspondent, Savanah Keyes (far right); Photo Credit: Greg Newton

Students from Wadsworth High School, Ohio choir group, pose with five-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town and Mickey Mouse as they kick off Music In Our School Tour at Disney. (L-R) Jane Mell Balek, Give a Note CEO; Terry Dola, Disney Performing Arts vice president; Karen Fairchild; Jimi Westbrook; Kalyn Davis, school choir director; Philip Sweet; Kimberly Schlapman; Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO; and Radio Disney Country correspondent, Savanah Keyes (far right); Photo Credit: Greg Newton

“Every year the launch of the Music In Our Schools Tour at Walt Disney World Resort grows bigger and more exciting,’’ said Terry Dola, Disney Performing Arts vice president of group sales and marketing. “It was a thrill of a lifetime for these students to spend time with such an award-winning group such as Little Big Town, and it’s another example of the kinds of extraordinary experiences students receive with Disney Performing Arts.’’

This year, six schools will receive a $2,500 grant from Give A Note Foundation, which will also be matched by the CMAs. In addition, students from the schools will appear at select performances, hosted by Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country.

• Ramona High School, Riverside, CA
• Joliet Central High School, Joliet, IL
• Salina South Middle School, Salina, KS
• James Otis Elementary School, Boston, MA
• Tar River Elementary School, Franklinton, NC
• Wenatchee High School, Wenatchee, WA

To learn more about Give a Note Foundation and the Music In Our Schools Tour, visit giveanote.org and follow hashtag #MusicInspires.