Heid Music’s ‘The Big 10+ Contest’ Aims to Put More Than $30,000 into School Music Programs in March

Heid Music, with stores located throughout Wisconsin, is aiming to put more than $30,000 into area school music programs during Music in our Schools Month this March.

“With the new Every Student Succeeds Act recognizing for the first time the importance of music as part of a well-rounded education, we realize that school music programs increasingly need community help to support their students’ success,” said Todd Heid, owner of Heid Music. “We want to help them bring as much music to their schools as possible.”

To do this, Heid Music has created two opportunities for schools to receive a piece of this pie.

For the sixth straight year, Heid Music is running The Big 10+ Contest. Throughout March, students and their families, community members and educators can show off what music education means to them and their school for a chance to win one of 17 musical prizes with a total value of more than $10,000. Entrants are asked to upload a photo that best represents their school music program, or to share and tag a photo with #Big10Music, along with the name and city of their school, on their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages. Entrants will then solicit votes for their photos. The school with the most votes by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2017 will have first choice of prizes. The school with the second highest number of votes will have second choice and so on, until all prizes are claimed. Visit heidmusic.com/big10music or the “Big 10+ Contest” tab at facebook.com/heidmusic to enter, vote or find complete contest rules.

To further support the efforts of our area music education programs, Heid Music created another opportunity to bring more music to schools with its Music Matters Initiative. From March 1-31, 2017, Heid Music is matching individuals’ donations of $5 or more with Heid Music in-store credit to support their preferred school district music program. School districts will then receive the cash donations plus up to $500 per district of in-store credit to use towards products and services. Heid Music is matching up to $10,000. All donations are tax deductible and must be made in store. Donors will also be recognized throughout Heid Music stores.

For nearly seven decades, music education has been a driving force of family-owned Heid Music, a cause continuously supported over the years by ample scientific research and reports. 

“Playing a musical instrument can do great things for your body and mind. In fact, studies show it is the brain’s equivalent to a full body workout!” said Heid. “That’s why Heid Music finds it so important to maintain a focus on music education and programming in schools and in the community.”

Additionally, research on music education has found the longer you play an instrument the more your body and mind will benefit now and for years to come—from better grades and improved self esteem to increased memory and overall happiness. For more facts and figures on music education, see www.nammfoundation.org/sites/default/files/Factsandfigures_Feb2017_PDF.pdf.

The Big 10+ Contest is made possible with the generous support of the following partners: ACE Products, Alfred, American Way, Cannonball, Connolly, Conn-Selmer, Cordoba, D’Addario, Dansr, Eastman, Hal Leonard, Hohner, Jupiter, The Music People, On-Stage, Yamaha, and Yamaha Band & Orchestra.