Chely Wright Brings The Sounds Of Music To Children In Music City

NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ MCA Nashville) - Chely Wright, founder of Reading, Writing & Rhythm, has once again made a generous and most personal donation to bring music to schools.

As part of her initiative to bring music to schools across the country, Chely Wright began her 2007 donation campaign in Music City. Last Thursday, Chely Wright paid a special visit to Hattie Cotton Elementary School in Nashville, TN. The elementary school has 400 students from pre-kindergarten through 4th grade.

In the first presentation of the 2007-2008 school year, Wright presented the students with a grand musical gift to enhance the school's 3rd and 4th grade music program. Wright appeared with an assortment of early education musical instruments and small hand-held percussion instruments including: (220) recorders, (1) 2-1/2 octave bell kit, (10) 8" wooden tambourines, (6) bongos, (6) Guiros, (6) 5" cowbells, (6) better wood maracas, (20) pair rhythm drumsticks, (36) eggshells, (6) 4 x 6 cabasas, (4 sets) finger cymbals, (6) 6-1/2" woodblocks with attached stick, (6) music spoons, (2) sleigh bells and (3) 5" metal triangles. A professional keyboard was also donated.

The school's music teacher, Ms. Dajuana Hammonds, made the board members aware of the school's need by submitting the school's name online at www.rwandr.org.

'I'm excited to introduce these 3rd and 4th graders to the basics of music,' Ms. Hammonds said.

Chely Wright organized Reading, Writing & Rhythm with the objective of improving the quality of music education in America's schools. Since its formation in 1999, the organization has raised nearly $750,000.