Bringing the Boogie to the Bronx -- Miles Music Kid Brings 1,000 Ukuleles to Bronx Classrooms

Music has the power to transform a classroom, but for many students, the biggest barrier to creativity isn’t a lack of talent—it’s a lack of tools. NYC students were blessed this week with a gift of musical instruments and a visit from viral sensation, Miles Bonham, also known as Miles Music Kid on social media. 

Bonham isn't just a person gone viral, he is a kid and a multitalented musician with a passion for helping people, especially kids his own age. 

Bonham teamed up with Education Through Music (ETM) and The Guitar Center Music Foundation to bridge that gap in a big way.

More Than Just a Donation

It’s one thing to talk about music education; it’s another to put an instrument in a child's hands. During his visit, Bonham helped facilitate a massive donation of 1,000 Ukuleles and three DJ Decks. 

These instruments, provided by The Guitar Center Music Foundation, ensure that students in under-resourced schools have the same opportunity to express themselves as the pros do. Bonham shared his thoughts on why this initiative is so important:

I’m so lucky that I have instruments around my house... but some people don’t have that even though they love music just as much as I do. I’m really happy knowing that we are giving these kids all of this musical gear so they can have something to go to whenever they feel like they want to express themselves.

Creativity in Action

The visit wasn't just about the gear—it was about the music. Bonham spent the day diving into the creative process with the students. He performed on the guitar and, in a true display of his production skills, sampled the students' voices and classroom sounds to build a track right then and there.

By introducing both traditional instruments like the ukulele and modern tools like DJ decks, the initiative gives students a diverse toolkit to explore their own unique sounds.

A Mission for Equity

This event supports ETM’s “Making Minds Sing!” mission. For over 30 years, Education Through Music has fought to make music a core subject in New York City schools, providing instruction and training where it’s needed most.

Bree Bowles, Senior VP at Republic Records: Kids & Family, noted the impact of seeing the students' reactions firsthand: "Being in the classroom with Miles and seeing how students respond to music in real time is a powerful reminder of why this work matters."

Why It Matters

When a child learns to play an instrument, they aren't just learning notes; they are building confidence, collaboration skills, and a sense of belonging. As Dr. Janice Weinman, CEO of ETM, put it, these experiences are truly transformative.

Through the combined efforts of artists like Miles, the support of Republic Records, and the generosity of the Guitar Center Music Foundation, 1,000 students in the Bronx just got a lot closer to finding their voice.

ABOUT REPUBLIC RECORDS: KIDS & FAMILY
Kids & Family launched as the official children’s division of Republic Records in 2022. The division caters to audiences ages 0-12 with fun and family-friendly music, collaborations, and experiences tailored to early development. Aimed to entertain the whole family, it offers engaging, educational, and explorative content, leveraging innovative partnerships with trusted brands such as Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, Paramount Pictures, Netflix, Sony Pictures, NBC Universal and many more. With an emphasis on high-quality music and world-class presentation, Republic Records: Kids & Family appeals to little ears and beyond. 

ABOUT EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC (ETM):

Founded in 1991, Education Through Music (ETM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality music education by making it a core subject in under-resourced schools. ETM partners with school principals to provide comprehensive music programs, integrated into the school day and delivered by qualified music teachers, that foster academic achievement, emotional resilience, and personal growth. By providing music education to thousands of underserved students across New York City who would otherwise go without, ETM is “making minds sing” and building the foundation for the next generation of leaders. For more information, visit www.ETMonline.org.

ABOUT THE GUITAR CENTER MUSIC FOUNDATION:

For some, music may be just a hobby. But for others, music serves as a crucial lifeline – a path to healing, an opportunity to nurture untapped talent, an escape from the grim realities of everyday life, a break from generational trauma, or the start of a social revolution. The Guitar Center Music Foundation (GCMF) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to the healing, transformative power of music. Thousands of individuals nationwide benefit yearly from GCMF’s grants and other efforts aiding veterans, hospital patients, the unhoused, and those affected by natural disasters, as well as youth in both schools and after-school programs. By providing these programs with all types of instruments and advocating for the benefits of music education and music therapy, GCMF furthers its mission of giving people the chance to create and express themselves through music. For more information about The Guitar Center Music Foundation, please visit http://guitarcenterfoundation.org/.