Kid Pan Alley

Kid Pan Alley transforms classrooms into creative studios where children are inspired by the creative process through songwriting. Since our founding 25 years ago, we’ve written nearly 3,000 songs with over 80,000 children across the country from Virginia to Hawaii, building confidence and fostering community through the power of collaborative songwriting.

We’re aiming to raise $50,000 to bring our innovative program to thousands more children. Your donation before May 13th will go twice as far thanks to our board’s matching gift, plus you’ll help us qualify for additional prizes and bonus funds!

“There is nothing more helpful to a developing human than to learn how to express feelings in sound. Kid Pan Alley is a fabulous way of bringing young people into the loop of reflective behavior, of constructive action.”  Maestro Lorin Maazel, Former Music Director, NY Philharmonic

Don’t miss our upcoming special concert on May 3rd at the Little Washington Theatre celebrating our 25th anniversary featuring founder Paul Reisler and the Kid Pan Alley Band, where we’ll perform selections from our vast catalog of children’s songs.

Click here for tickets to our upcoming show.  

Our professional teaching artists guide students through creating original songs together, connecting them with history, culture, current events, and their own experiences. Through this process, children learn to express themselves while respecting diverse perspectives. The impact of Kid Pan Alley extends beyond the classroom. Our songs have been recorded by celebrated artists like Amy Grant, Sissy Spacek, Pinchas Zukerman, Delbert McClinton, Cracker, Kix Brooks, Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Corey Harris, Suzy Bogguss and many others. We’ve released six studio albums that have won two Parents’ Choice Gold Awards, a WAMMIE, and even received a Grammy nomination!

 

Here's a Kid Pan Alley song written by the 5th grade at Wakefield Country Day School.

 

Here’s what 6x GRAMMY® Nominated singer/songwriter John McCutcheon and Billboard Hot 100™ charting singer/songwriter Steve Poltz have to say about Kid Pan Alley and the importance of songwriting with children.

 

“Kid Pan Alley is the quintessential program for helping kids to experience their creative power, their voice, and their own self-expression. This is the kind of experience that changes lives.”  Kathy Mattea, Grammy Award Winner

"One boy in my class jumped in feet first and was incredible. He often has difficulty expressing himself but this opened
up a new path for him."  Kathy Dowd, Jackson-Via Elementary, Charlottesville, VA

Your support today will help us inspire creativity in thousands more children tomorrow!