Yamaha ‘Mad T Party’ Guitar Auction Raises $9,000 for Music Education

Yamaha guitars used in the live “Mad T Party” show at Disney California Adventure were auctioned off earlier this month to raise money for the music education programs in the Anaheim Elementary School District (AESD). 

The auction raised $9,000, which was used to purchase forty instruments for the AESD, including trumpets, clarinets, and flutes.

Of the eight guitars used in the live show, four Yamaha Pacifica models and one bass model BB1024x were auctioned off. All of the instruments featured a graphic of the Dormouse character from the live-action “Alice in Wonderland” movie.

 “We thought auctioning the guitars would be a good way to help get musical instruments back into some of the schools and get more visibility of the needs of school music programs,” says David Jewell, the marketing communications manager at Yamaha Corporation of America. “With Disneyland and Anaheim in our backyard, it made sense to donate the $9,000 to their school district’s music education program.”

Jewell says that none of the Anaheim Elementary schools had music programs three years ago. In 2017, half of the 24 schools have full time music teachers and full programs, and the money raised from the Yamaha auction will be used to expand music education at all 24 of the schools.  

 “Studies repeatedly show that when children are exposed to music in school, all their subjects will improve, leading to a better academic experience,” Jewell adds. “Yamaha has always been a leader in music education and it is personally gratifying to help further that mission in the Anaheim schools.”

Photo: David Jewell gives Mary Grace (assistant superintendent of educational services for the Anaheim Elementary School district in Orange County) a check for $9,000.