Student jam summit in Dallas ISD on Friday

Students from 13 schools will participate in the event, which will culminate with a group rendition of "Oye Como Va."

Little Kids Rock (LKR), a nonprofit music program that provides free instruments and instruction for students in underfunded public schools, announced that some of its Dallas ISD teachers will coordinate a student jam summit beginning at 4 p.m., Friday, May 8, at Cesar Chavez Learning Center, 1710 N. Carroll St.

Students from 13 schools will participate in the event, which will include two to four song performances by each group of students and a culminating jam session with every student on Oye Como Va and an original song written for LKR by famed Billy Joel drummer, Liberty DeVitto.

Fender Musical Instruments has donated 40 Starcaster drum sets to LKR programs in the Dallas ISD. This LKR special event is co-sponsored by the Dallas Independent School District, Thriving Minds and Big Thought.

Participating Dallas Independent School District schools include: Esperanza "Hope" Medrano Elementary School, Seagoville Middle School, S.S. Conner Elementary School, John H. Reagan Elementary School, Alex W. Spence Middle Learning Center & Talented/Gifted Academy, Rosemont Elementary School, Joseph J. Rhoads Learning Center, Gilbert Cuellar Sr. Elementary School, Maria Moreno Elementary School, George Bannerman Dealey Montessori Academy, Edward Titche Elementary School, Sequoyah Learning Center and Cesar Chavez Learning Center.

The Dallas ISD Little Kids Rock program began with 24 teachers and 500 guitars in January of 2008, with funding provided by Dean Guitars, several Darrell Abbott memorial events, a gift from the Hot Topic Foundation, and additional support from Marshall Amplification. Through a generous grant from Thriving Minds, the program expanded during the 2008-2009 school year to include 60 more teachers, an additional 600 guitars and 300 keyboards.

Source: DISD