YAMAHA BRINGS MUSIC TO NAVAJO INDIAN NATION
–Guitars and Keyboards Donation Aids Music Education of Native Children–

Don Drowty teaches a guitar class of Navajo High School students using their new donated Yamaha guitars.

BUENA PARK, CA (June 26, 2000)—Yamaha Corporation of America and the Many Farms Navajo Indian Reservation have joined together to make a dream come true for the children’s choir of Many Farms High School. The Many Farms Indian Reservation, located in the desert of Arizona, is home to approximately 5,000 Native Americans, and over 200,000 who live on the Navajo reservation, encompassing parts of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.

An isolated area, Many Farms still lacks what most take for granted–purified drinking water. A 70-80 percent unemployment rate exists on the reservation and many of its occupants must travel up to 150 miles to look for employment. Gasoline is not readily available either, with access to only two gas stations within the reservation’s geographic area.

The relationship between Many Farms and Yamaha began over 15 years ago through the American Music Project, a not-for-profit organization that offers assistance to school systems that are lacking funds for music education in the form of special programs. With over one-third of the nation’s music education programs in jeopardy of losing state funding, the American Music Project has assisted more than 70,000 schools across the nation, helping over 21 million children over the past 15 years. Most notably, Roy Rogers, Quincy Jones, Herb Alpert, and companies like A&M Records and Yamaha have given their time and resources in providing a pre-recorded celebrity singalong that was delivered to many schools free of charge. The recording took place at A&M Records, with Yamaha donating all the musical instruments and related recording products.

The Many Farms school system has been using instruments donated by Yamaha for many years, but over time, most were destroyed by acts of vandalism on the reservation. With the recent donation of new guitars and keyboards, the children will continue to enjoy learning how to play while providing musical accompaniment to the Navajo Nation High School choir.

Don Drowty and the Many Farms High School choir practicing on the donated Yamaha Clavinova for their trip to Beverly Hills for a recording session.

"With their endless support, Yamaha has been the backbone of music programs on the reservation. We are so appreciative of all their efforts on behalf of the children," states Don Drowty, department of special education, and the only music teacher within the Navajo reservation. "You can only play football and baseball for so long, but you can play a piano or guitar for a lifetime." Drowty has been a youth volunteer for over 40 years, 32 of which he has spent teaching music.

Thanks in part to some added resources, the Many Farms children’s choir recently traveled over 720 miles on a school bus to Beverly Hills, CA, for the First Navajo Nation High School Cultural Exchange where high schools in Beverly Hills, Malibu and the San Fernando Valley hosted the Many Farms choir. Los Angeles Lakers player, A.C. Green, "The Iron Man of Basketball," and actor Denzel Washington, on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club, greeted the choir in Beverly Hills upon their arrival. Each school provided lunch and some provided housing.

Culminating in a recorded performance with the Beverly Hills choir and using Yamaha instruments, both choirs recorded a CD entitled the American Indian National Anthem, which was recorded at the Sound Chamber Studio in Los Angeles in the Native American language. The anthem is slated to air throughout the Navajo nation on local radio stations. "We hope that hearing the choir on the radio will bring much pride and hope to our native children," says Drowty. "It has been one of the most rewarding and uplifting experiences for these children. The children’s eyes were wide with amazement at the sight of Beverly Hills coming from such a poverty-stricken environment."

"Yamaha believes in the importance of giving to those who cannot otherwise afford the opportunities that music and music education provide," notes Terry Lewis, senior vice president, Yamaha Corporation of America. "It is rewarding as a company to participate in programs that will in some small way enhance the spirit of music while providing a tool for learning to these children."

"We are proud to be a part of the promotion of music education for the Navajo children," states Gary Cook, Yamaha Guitar product manager. "The simplicity of music in their lives is such a source of pride to the families who continue to endure endless hardship and poor living conditions."

For more information on Yamaha’s involvement in music education and the Many Farms Navajo Indian Reservation, please write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail info@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamahaguitars.com on the Web.

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