Yahoo Movies Elk Grove teen musical prodigy selected as ambassador for national Kids Music Day
Neil Nayyar has been a very busy young man.
Interviews for Los Angeles and Philadelphia television; daytime spots on Good Morning America alongside interviews on local radio and TV.
The prolifically talented Elk Grove multi-instrumentalist, the player of 110-plus instruments and counting, is seemingly everywhere as the official spokesperson for the annual Kids Music Day, celebrated today.
“The message means a lot to me. Music education is very important to kids,” Nayyar, 16, said Thursday, during a brief break from the media blitz. “Being an ambassador — it’s worth it.”
The seventh annual day, the brainchild of the Philadelphia-based music education nonprofit organization Keep Music Alive, tapped the 16-year-old Elk Grove prodigy to be the face of the Kids Music Day effort in September.
As a Kids Music Day ambassador, Nayyar joins a list of pop, rock and jazz luminaries including Pat Benatar, Todd Rundgren, Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora and acclaimed electric bassist Victor Wooten.
“We were so moved by his experience,” said Keep Music Alive founder Vincent James. Nayyar first contacted the foundation a couple of years ago, James said. Until this year, Kids Music Day ambassadors were all adults. That changed this year with young Neil.
“Neil’s name came back to mind. The joy and passion comes through him so clearly. Who better (to be an ambassador) than someone who is not quite yet an adult,” James continued, saying Neil has used his story to inspire other kids to explore their own musical journeys. “It was an idea that came late to us, but I’m glad it did.”
Keep Music Alive annually teams with hundreds of music stores, music schools and other arts organizations to hold special youth music activities. Events and programs range from free music lessons and student performances to community music jam sessions, instrument donation drives and young performers’ open mics.
All can be very important to a young person’s musical development and helps students in the classroom and beyond, Nayyar said.
Music “helps kids to do better in school. It builds confidence,” Nayyar said. “Studies show that kids who play music test better in math, science and reading and they want to stay in school.”
Parents can play an important role, too, the musical Elk Grove teen said. Taking your child to the local music store or seeking out free music lessons in your community are ways to expose children to musical instruments and performance.
“We’re not trying to get every kid to become a professional musician. We want to show them that there are many benefits to playing music,” James said. “We’re trying to give them the best chance in life, no matter what they choose.”
For more information, visit www.keepmusicalive.org; and www.kidsmusicday.org.
