Nick Rose-Stamey is a lot like Jack Black's character in School of Rock- a guitarist who discovers a passion for making music accessible to children. Working in the nonprofit arts education sector over the last 10 years raised his awareness of the lack of music program s in public schools, and later inspired his nonprofit, Band in a Bus. "The original idea was to take an old school bus and turn it into the best band class on wheels, " he says.
In fact, activities of Band in a Bus don't actually happen on a bus. It provides instruments, courses, and staffing to students. Kids 18 and under can also participate in enriching summer programs through Band in a Bus, such as Bucket Brigade, five weekly classes where grades K-4 learn rhythm（节奏） and STEAM(science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) principles through contemporary music. There are also teen bands for grades 7-12 where kids learn to play pop music and develop social and team work skills.
When schools went virtual during the COVID-19 period, Rose-Stamey thought it was a shame that instruments were left sitting on shelves instead of in the hands of kids. So he created and distributed more than 1,000 "Band in a Box" DIY kits. Each kit contains small noise makers like kazoos, drumsticks, and shakers, with the intention of introducing a modernized music class experience that meets kids where they are.
"It is reported that if a kid has 30 minutes of a performing arts or creative elective every singleday, then that'll help them develop their social, emotional and leadership skills, because there's a lot of team work when it comes to making music. You have to learn how to work well with others," Rose-Stamey says.
In the last year, Band in a Bus has worked directly with more than 500 students. "Music is a win-win for everybody," Rose-Stamey says. "I just hope that someday we can stop making it the first kid out in the dodge ball（躲避球） game."
