Yankees Great Performs with Jazz House Kids

It's that time of year for school spring music concerts and baseball games, and more than 150 student musicians from Newark Public Schools got a little of both yesterday with New York Yankee legend Bernie Williams.  

Williams was the special guest of Jazz House Kids at a workshop and music showcase, featuring students from seven Newark Public Schools participating in Jazz House Kids ensemble and vocal classes.  

Williams performed a solo composition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and then joined students from Arts High in Newark in to showcase the student's skills and musical accomplishments.  

Williams, who is now studying guitar full time at the Manhattan School of Music, told students how important music was to him growing up in Puerto Rico and throughout his baseball career.  The skills he learned at his performing arts high school—focus, commitment and a drive for excellence—helped him become a better athlete and team leader.  

Celebrating 13 years in Newark Public Schools, Jazz House Kids provides in-school residencies and summer programming for students in grades K-12.  Jazz House programs foster lifelong learners, communicators, and innovators by using jazz, America's revered musical art form, as an effective teaching tool.  The 2013-2014 Jazz House Music Club and Vocal Summit Jazz Residency programs currently serve more than 300 students in nine Newark Schools.