'Little' Steven Van Zandt to Join Harris Poll Media Event Releasing New Survey Linking Early Music Education to Advanced Studies and Higher Incomes

'Little' Steven Van Zandt to Join Harris Poll Media Event Releasing New Survey Linking Early Music Education to Advanced Studies and Higher Incomes

WHAT:

"Little" Steven Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen band mate, Sopranos star, and creator of Little Steven's Underground Garage, will lend his support to the Harris Poll at a media event releasing a new survey showing a strong correlation between children who are exposed to music education and potential to successfully go onto higher education and earn higher incomes later in life. Along with the Harris Poll Director and Mr. Van Zandt, leaders from the National Association for Music Education will also participate.

The music educators will also announce their support of Little Steven's Rock and Roll High School, a program through Van Zandt's Rock and Roll Forever Foundation which aims to bring Rock and Roll history and music appreciation to middle and high-school classrooms in 2008/2009.

Mr. Van Zandt also will be autographing a Les Paul guitar, donated by Gibson. This guitar will be auctioned off at later date to benefit the Fund for the Advancement of Music Education.

BACKGROUND:

Whether it's chorus, band or instrument lessons, music impacts Americans' lives and society. A new Harris Poll will confirm how music can also provide important skills like creative problem solving that can help lead to higher education and incomes as well as personal fulfillment. This release of the poll is timely, given music education is often cut back in schools due to budget or other constraints. As modifications to the "No Child Left Behind Act" are currently being debated in Congress, the relative importance of music education as a core academic subject is also being considered.

WHERE:
National Press Club - Broadcast Center (moved from First Amendment Lounge)
529 14th Street, NW, 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20045
Credentialed Media Only

WHEN:
Monday, November 12, 2007 (Veteran's Day), 10:00 a.m.

WHO:
Speakers will include:

-- Regina Corso, Director, The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive
-- Steven Van Zandt, musician, actor and philanthropist

-- Dr. John Mahlmann, Exec. Director, National Association for Music Education

CONTACT: John Fitzpatrick, +1-202-289-2001, +1-202-841-1963 (after hours and weekend), jfitzpatrick@stratacomm.net, or Dara Ward, +1-202-289-2001, +1-703-966-4327 (after hours and weekend), dward@stratacomm.net, both for National Association for Music Education

/PRNewswire-USNewswire - Nov. 9/

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: National Association for Music Education

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