Feel the Music is a nonprofit organization that provides music education programs to deaf children ages 5-12 in New York City. Their mission is to give deaf children the opportunity to experience the joy of music. They bring music programs to local elementary schools for deaf students, allowing them to play instruments and perform in sign language choirs, led by professional teachers trained by Feel the Music. Their goal is to enable deaf children to enjoy the same musical opportunities as others.

2. About Feel the Music
Feel The Music is a non-profit organization based in New York City that provides music
education programs to deaf children. Our mission is to give children with hearing impairments,
ages 5-12, a chance to participate in musical programs and experience the joy that music brings.
Why This Is Important
Statistics shows that about 2 to 3 out of every 1000 children in the United States are born with a
detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears. Many people with hearing impairments have
significant residual hearing and can listen to music at higher volumes. However, the majority of
the deaf population does not receive any music education in their childhood. Feel the Music
hopes to enable kids with hearing impairments to enjoy the same musical opportunities just like
everyone else.
What We Do
We bring music to local elementary schools for deaf students. Since we have launched in 2015,
our music education programs have reached more than 1000 students at 10 different locations
in New York City. The programs allow students with hearing impairments to play musical
instruments and perform in American Sign Language choirs. All programs are under the
instruction of professional music teachers, recruited and trained by Feel the Music. There are
bands, orchestras and choirs for students with hearing impairments to join. Semi-annual
concerts are held at the end of every semester for children to showcase their musical talents.
Music is a gift from God. Music is for everyone. Feel the Music wants to create the best musical
experience for children with hearing impairments.
Backgrounder

3. Rebekkah Kimani
Co-Founder, Feel the Music
Rebekkah grew up in Indiana in a family of musicians. Her mother is a
licensed music teacher and violinist who had a great influence on
Rebekkah’s music career. At the age of 5, her mother started to teach
little Rebekkah how to play the violin, and that was the time she fell in
love with music. As Rebekkah grew up, she became more passionate
about music and started to learn both piano and guitar.
The countless music prizes Rebekkah won during her adolescence were proof of her
achievement as a young musician. In the Issma Music Competition, hosted by Indiana State
School Music Association, she won first and second places for solo and group ensembles for 7
years in a row.
Rebekkah is always passionate to join volunteer work related to music education. She was once
the volunteer teacher in BDK Music Summer Camp, where she enjoyed helping those young
music lovers.
Rebekkah became passionate about children with hearing impairment when she was working in
retail. One day, she was trying to assist two people as she was dancing to music, but the two
people did not respond. Later on, she saw them signing to each other, and that is when it
dawned on her that they were deaf. Her mind wandered off into thinking if they could not hear
her then they probably did not hear the music she was dancing to, so she looked silly in their
eyes. This experience inspired her to do more research and learn how hearing impaired, or deaf
people experience the joys of music. That was when she came up with the idea to start Feel the
Music with her friend, Yongshi.
Rebekkah received her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism Public Relations with a minor in Music
and Symphonic Instruments at Ball State University. She is currently working on her Master’s
Degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communication at New York University.
Bios

4. Yongshi Zhu
Co-Founder, Feel the Music
Yongshi grew up in Changchun City in the northeastern part of China.
She became a music lover from a very young age. Her father told her
that she learned to dance to the beats of music when she was just two
years old. As she grew up, singing and listening to music became
Yongshi’s favorite hobbies in her spare time. She also started learning
how to play the piano at the age of six.
As a young adult, Yongshi participated in the University Choir at The Hong Kong Polytechnic
University. There she won the championship of the Annual Singing Contest 2014. Music keeps
playing important part in Yongshi’s life and she cannot imagine a world without music.
It is no secret that Yongshi has always had a passion for helping out in the community. In
college, she volunteered with Zonta Club, an international non-profit organization serving
women and children. She enjoyed the time teaching and singing with young kids from Southeast
Asia. She deeply believes that love and care can make a difference, and education is key to
change one’s life.
Yongshi began to pay attention to the deaf population years ago after she watched an
impressive performance called Lady Buddha with Thousand Hands on the television. She was
surprised when told that the 63 dancers all had hearing loss, but could dance to the music so
perfectly. Years later, when her friend Rebekkah told her the idea of starting Feel the Music,
Yongshi was more than happy to be her partner. Yongshi hopes to spread her love for music by
getting others to be a part of Feel the Music. She wants people to understand music is for
everyone.
Yongshi Zhu earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Chinese and Bilingual Studies with a minor in
Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She is currently working on her Master’s
Degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communication at New York University.
Bios

5. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Rebekkah Kimani
Co-Founder, Feel the Music
646-464-6464
bekki@ftm.org
Deaf Students Can Create Music Too
Feel the Music Provides Musical Education for Students with Hearing Impairments
NEW YORK, August 5, 2015 — This school year, students with hearing impairments will be
able to participate in more musical programs thanks to Feel the Music, a non-profit music
education organization for deaf children. The objective of the organization is to provide
children, with hearing loss, an opportunity to express and experience different emotions that
music can create.
“Music is such a beautiful thing, and having dealt with hearing loss myself, if I can help reach the
deaf community and help them experience this beautiful thing, then sign me up,” said Jane
Lynch, American singer, actress and comedian.
Feel the Music will bring in well trained musicians that are also trained in deaf education to
teach these programs. Students will be given the chance to participate in band, choir or
orchestra. Students will also be able to showcase their talents in two concerts per school year.
“Music is a gift from God. Music is for everyone. We hope to bring the joy of music to more
deaf kids with music dreams,” said Co-Founder of Feel the Music, Yongshi Zhu.
# # #
About Feel the Music
Feel The Music is a non-profit organization based in New York City that provides music
education programs to children with hearing impairments. It was founded by Rebekkah Kimani
and Yongshi Zhu, on the foundation that every person should be able to experience the
emotions that music can bring.
Press Release

6. Feel the Holiday, Feel the Music
OVERVIEW
Feel the Holiday is a Christmas-themed auction
put on by Feel the Music. It will take place at
the New York School for the Deaf auditorium.
Jane Lynch, who also deals with hearing loss
and stars on Glee, will host the event.
The purpose of the auction is
To raise funds for Feel the Music
to fund its teachers, instruments,
as well as events and daily
operations.
The afternoon will start off with a musical
performance by famous percussionist — Evelyn
Glennie. Around 1:30 p.m., the auction will take
place. Items include: Stradivarius, Yamaha,
Samuel Eastman, and Besson instruments that
were all donated by top local music stores in
NYC.
There will be other musical performances
throughout the auction: by our guests, our
students and co-founders. The finale
performance will be with Justin Bieber, Mariah
Carey, Usher, and students within Feel the
Music.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: December 19 (Sat.), 2015
Time: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Ticket: Adult admission - $50
Student admission - $20
Location: New York School for the Deaf
auditorium, 555 Knollwood Rd, Elmsford, NY
10603 (From NYC: Take FDR Drive to exit 4, turn
left at NY-100A N/W Hartsdale)
GUESTS
Jane Lynch
Evelyn Glennie
Mariah Carey
Justin Bieber
Usher
CONTACTS
Rebekkah Kimani
Feel the Music, Co-Founder
bekki@ftm.org
646-464-6464
Yongshi Zhu
Feel the Music, Co-Founder
emily@ftm.org
646-646-4646
SPONSORS
*All proceeds will go to Feel the Music. Refreshments will be provided*

7. To: Kate Taylor (kate.taylor@nytimes.com)
From: Rebekkah Kimani
Subject Line: Jane Lynch Visits New York School for the Deaf
Hello Ms. Taylor,
It’s that time of the year where everyone is celebrating the holiday season, and I wanted to
personally invite you to attend a special holiday fundraiser, Feel the Holiday. This event is put
on by Feel the Music and hosted by Jane Lynch, to raise money and awareness for the
musical programs offered by Feel the Music.
Feel the Music is a music education organization for hearing impaired students ages 5-12, in
the NYC schools. Feel the Holiday will take place at the New York School for the Deaf on
December 19th, at 1pm. This fundraiser will be enjoyable for the whole family. There will be an
auction, and musical performances by artists: Evelyn Glennie, Justin Bieber, Usher and
Mariah Carey, along with a performance from our students and co-founders. Items being
auctioned are instruments from brands such as Besson, Samuel Eastman, Stradivarius and
Yamaha.
I would be happy to arrange an interview with Jane Lynch, students or other artists. I will follow
up with you to confirm your attendance next Monday. Thank you in advance for your
consideration.
Best,
Rebekkah Kimani
Co-Founder, Feel the Music
646-464-6464
bekki@ftm.org
Pitch Letter

8. Website