https://www.rocknreadproject.org/home daily 1.0 2026-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/1747843747307-29ME7I1J1UH1DJ56AEJP/unsplash-image-8X5PS8tAqsA.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/a1948818-f3ec-4210-bab8-a7165dd1e6a6/RnR+Musical+skills+%26+reading+data+analysis+2023.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/23549bd1-62b6-47c0-b3e9-a8ca6c65f646/Boy+reading.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.rocknreadproject.org/ourstory daily 0.75 2025-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/fe9d815c-ff89-447e-bd4b-0d02c1d16498/6.png Our Story - Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/2e8a298e-edb1-46ad-a84d-46dc6bbce0b0/HIA+Student.JPG Our Story - Founded in 2014 “If kids can’t read, they can’t succeed.” This statement drove Bill Jones and Ann Kay to launch the Rock ‘n’ Read Project. Bill converted a retired city bus into a mobile reading lab with 32 computers and a singing-based software program, TUNEin to Reading. Bill drove the bus to a Minneapolis Public summer school and a YMCA where groups of children came on to sing and read daily. Children who sang with the program for 10 hours gained 1/2 year (avg.) in reading...in the summer…on a bus!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/1245b714-c08c-487e-9e06-f4e1595e7526/Seal_of_Minnesota.svg.png Our Story - 5-year state project The MN Legislature awarded Rock ‘n’ Read $600,000 to implement TUNEin to Reading (TiR), a singing-based program, with 2500 students in 25 schools (2016-2021). Data confirmed existing research studies that found that students gained 1 year (avg.) in reading after 14 hours of usage. Although Rock ‘n’ Read no longer implements TiR, it is available for home and school use from the company TUNEin to Reading. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/dc83b9a4-68e4-4fe2-b9a2-e0c119fecada/Singing+Hush+Little+Baby.jpg Our Story - Today Rock ‘n’ Read Project helps families, educators, and organizations use singing and basic music skills to develop young brains for reading. https://www.rocknreadproject.org/contact daily 0.75 2026-01-11 https://www.rocknreadproject.org/workshops daily 0.75 2025-10-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/3104ac2d-6a76-4422-b1fc-78c2d950ca5a/Way+to+Grow+Apr+2025.jpg Workshops - Workshops https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/92673c73-9bff-48dd-9008-faa81627f664/Pocos+-+Copy.jpg Workshops - It’s All About the Brain! Using Singing and Music Skills to Develop Pre-Reading Skills Ann C. Kay Have fun singing, playing singing games, and learning how to help children develop pre-reading skills such as keeping a beat, clapping the rhythm of words, matching pitch and singing in tune. No prior music training necessary! Brain research has revealed that how the brain processes and remembers sound is the key to language and literacy, and singing and basic music skills are primary ways to develop it. Note: children who cannot pat a steady beat are likely to struggle with reading. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/82c5be80-016c-4e40-8b5c-a424bd0a3b01/TBB.Logo2.jpg Workshops - Sing Today, Read Forever! How to Prepare Young Brains for Reading Ann Kay and the Teddy Bear Band (same description as It’s All About the Brain above but with Teddy Bear songs!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/0291f870-1870-4b12-9fc1-6db71d10360e/Zing%2C+Zing%2C+Zing.jpg Workshops - In a trance “Once I start singing, my students seem to be in a trance. They drop everything, join in singing, and move to the group area.” “I have heard them singing these songs all over school.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/1748101546162-AE47YQNTCL9S0OO98L9C/unsplash-image-BPXSTl_HBhk.jpg Workshops - Increase in reading “There is a definite difference between this year and every other year that I have taught. Half of my class is almost a full grade level ahead of where they need to be reading.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/1748101717480-QDPRG2D8D3EREYP39FW8/unsplash-image-p_KJvKVsH14.jpg Workshops - Rhyming improves “The most significant increase for kindergartners has been in their rhyming scores…the year I followed your program, their scores increased 10 points (avg).” https://www.rocknreadproject.org/pre-readingskills daily 0.75 2026-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/d3529416-b0c5-448a-9191-7903b52a6027/pexels-nappy-3536630.jpg Brain Train Actvities - Pre-Reading Strategies https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/1747848993737-AIX0C36NG3IZT15E9KY6/unsplash-image-8C_IaqAujwM.jpg Brain Train Actvities - Sing your day away! Chant rhymes and sing songs. Sing songs you love. Repeat them often and children will join in. Use a sing-songy voice instead of speaking—children will pay more attention! Sing the same greeting song to children every day. Sing a lullaby before children go to sleep. Ask children to sing into a toy echo microphone and hear the echo sound. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/795a29e5-63d7-45e5-9bf0-47a52ce9fa94/Metronome.jpg Brain Train Actvities - Keep the beat Ask children to pat the beat with both hands on their laps while chanting poems and nursery rhymes, and singing songs. Pat on other parts of body. Sing songs with motions to the beat such as, "The Wheels on the Bus." Open a metronome app or access online: such as, Metronome (Android) or TrueMetronome Lite (Apple), or Online Metronome. Set to 120 beats/minute. Ask children to pat with both hands on their laps exactly at the same time as the click sound. When children are able to keep the beat, ask them to clap the words of a song—every syllable. For example, in Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, "Twin-kle" gets two claps. Use rhythm sticks to tap the rhythm of a song —every syllable of the words. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/678b5fdd-e377-4b7d-a57e-7b98fe6b3f68/Pitch+pipe.jpg Brain Train Actvities - Match pitch Note: most children can only produce sounds from middle C on up. Slide the voice up and down like a siren. Ask children to echo. Sing two different pitches—one high and one low. Ask children which one was higher. Sing and hold a pitch on "oo" and ask children to match. Ask a child to sing and hold a pitch on “oo” and you try to match it. Use Perfect Pitch by Swift Scales (for Android or Apple), or Online Tone Generator to play a pitch, match it on "oo," and ask children to match. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/cdf3b225-6870-49d1-ad9a-dffeeb516c28/Children+singing.jpg Brain Train Actvities - Sing in tune Sing a familiar song with children, trying to match their pitches. Sing a familiar song, but stop before the last word of each phrase, such as "Twinkle, twinkle, little _____." Children fill in the word. Trade off singing each phrase of a song, first the adult, then children. Sing "yoo-hoo" or "cuck-oo" (the sound of a cuckoo clock). Children echo. Record children’s singing with a phone and have them listen to it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/bab4c34c-1e6b-4e10-9f3f-56945681f5fc/Baby+%26+mom.jpg Brain Train Actvities - Play singing games Starting with babies, sing folk songs, such as “The Wheels on the Bus,” and encourage them to do motions to the beat. Sing fingerplays, such as “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Baby Shark.” With older ones, play hand-clapping games, such as “Who Took the Cookie,” and “Miss Mary Mack.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/0383621b-2c61-4d00-a31d-ca6ba7d36c59/Miss+Mary+Mack.jpg Brain Train Actvities - Sing-read song tales Seeing words of a song that a child already knows is a step to reading. There are hundreds of these books in many languages: 15 Multicultural children’s books based on famous songs Bookroom picks Public library suggestions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/6d851253-2155-4243-a3ca-bff724a56ba4/Sing+Today%2C+Read+Forever+-+English.jpg Brain Train Actvities - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/fcc82032-63f8-4f43-821a-7894397f0a84/Sing+Today%2C+Read+Forever%21+-+Spanish.jpg Brain Train Actvities - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/37dc7eb7-94ef-43b4-ab5c-bc100b1f4158/Sing+Today%2C+Read+Forever+-+Somali.jpg Brain Train Actvities - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/c1a0b8fb-3764-45dc-b267-ab0caadca681/TiR+screen.png Brain Train Actvities - TUNE into Reading Fun, singing-based software program used as an intervention for struggling readers. Research has found that children make one year gain in reading (avg.) after 14 hours of usage. Can be used at home, school, or community organization. https://www.rocknreadproject.org/about-us-3 daily 0.75 2026-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/cb2a1f8e-292b-4fef-8ae3-436e25a9fe98/3.png Meet the Team - Meet the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/12941c03-5e26-4b96-98e9-3025e4279efa/Bill+March+2026+edited.png Meet the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/863f382e-959e-4cbe-b25a-9d46cea5711d/Ann+C.+Kay+-+Mar+2026.jpg Meet the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/9bf727da-fd0d-48e8-8225-66749d1d6b66/40c247-20221129-david-davis-600.jpg Meet the Team - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/6faf9dea-0605-40ee-8dc5-79b727616ada/Julie+Moore+Rapacki.png Meet the Team - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/f842d553-f490-4894-a06d-905595cb7296/Kari+Werdahl.jpg Meet the Team - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.rocknreadproject.org/about-us-1 daily 0.75 2025-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/b5c347cb-6c94-495e-87ae-fb527d29a105/12.png Mission/Vision - About Us The Rock ‘n’ Read Project is a Minnesota 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2014. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/0a87ea74-4606-4a41-9225-4fd28c7878a4/5.png Mission/Vision - Vision Every child is nurtured with singing and music-making because adults in their lives understand how music builds the brain for reading. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/890dc002-8bc7-4b3d-a01f-108301a3424e/3.png Mission/Vision - Mission We help families, educators, and organizations use singing and basic music skills to develop young brains for reading by providing training and resources. https://www.rocknreadproject.org/press-and-media daily 0.75 2026-02-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/dff6e8d2-ddbc-46e4-9c80-10e8a0c392a6/1.png In the News - News! https://www.rocknreadproject.org/brainresearch daily 0.75 2026-03-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/56dc6205-b9a2-4fe0-adbe-f1f72cbc4c7d/unsplash-image-58Z17lnVS4U.jpg Brain Research - Brain Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/36f2b873-8c94-4077-abb1-11350d84ca4b/Auditory+Neuroscience+Lab%2C+Northwestern+U+2021.png Brain Research This slide is from BrainVolts presentations at the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory at Northwestern University https://www.rocknreadproject.org/evidence daily 0.75 2026-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/dff6e8d2-ddbc-46e4-9c80-10e8a0c392a6/1.png Our Evidence - Our Evidence https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/bfb0d690-e0e9-4cc9-ae20-c4ff69d185aa/RnR+Musical+skills+%26+reading+data+analysis+2023.jpg Our Evidence - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/7909d313-9d1f-449b-8b62-1f8f2628a21a/Rock+%27n%27+Read+Overview-Feb+2024.jpg Our Evidence - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/1635738810019-WDPAK5H3CJI3KNYL7O2P/Des+Moines+APC+Graph.png Our Evidence https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/1588202960075-5481RSNPAHBPNW1L6OVE/Bancroft+APC+Results.png Our Evidence https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/1586535316399-NU7NETZH1RMDIC17AWJL/MCA+2017-2018+Graph.png Our Evidence https://www.rocknreadproject.org/experts daily 0.75 2025-10-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/1614540998673-99G80XEZ8SCXMI7HCCAX/5.png Experts - videos - Experts How do brains learn to read? Why does music-making help? https://www.rocknreadproject.org/musical-fitness-assessment daily 0.75 2026-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/59b646b7-409b-417f-981e-4ea5358c523e/2.png Musical Fitness Assessment - Musical Fitness Assessment WHAT IS MUSICAL FITNESS? The ability to perform basic music skills: keep a steady beat, clap the rhythm of the words of a song, match a pitch, and sing in tune. WHY ASSESS CHILDREN’S BASIC MUSIC SKILLS? They are highly correlated with reading achievement. WHAT DO BASIC SKILLS LOOK LIKE? Scroll down for videos! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/66a17d43-c829-4346-92b3-8b3f05dd8485/MFA.jpg Musical Fitness Assessment - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.rocknreadproject.org/new-page-1 daily 0.75 2024-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/20967b18-a2f5-402e-a46d-974d9f3b9895/pexels-amina-filkins-5560487+original+-+Copy.jpg Donate - Help all children be ready to read! https://www.rocknreadproject.org/song-a-day-1 daily 0.75 2026-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/aef381d3-2d9e-444d-8b9a-4e79dc93e2b7/ASAD_cover_with_spiral_8_9_25_vs2_sm.jpg Description https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/99e2d8d8-d3dc-4537-a15d-19526c2a0057/Teacher.jpeg Description - I couldn’t sing I loved it! I was always the student/teacher who thought I couldn't sing and was intimidated by the prospect of doing so. This program helped me grow in my own confidence and enjoyment of singing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/891ba487-01d3-4e02-bd3b-3a96b8803ee6/Girl+singing+-+Copy+small.jpg Description - Spontaneous singing “There were so many times throughout the day that one student would be humming or singing one of the songs to themselves (during math, recess, lunch, transitions...) and the whole class would end up joining in singing.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/ed04824f-a3e2-46aa-b611-3f65f2ebdb8b/classroom+smaller.jpg Description - Love the songs “I absolutely loved the songs in this program...a few months in I found myself singing them for transitions. Students starting asking if we could sing specific songs as well. I can happily say by the end of the school year I was singing throughout the day in my room.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/1748123213112-3FIQ7XKYXXSBDNJSFSNB/unsplash-image-_YfoApRxd4I.jpg Description - Highly engaged “I have a student who was often resistant to lessons and knew that he was below grade level - so it was a negative spiral. The lessons felt like the opposite of that for both him and I! He was often the most engaged and able to recount the songs.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/59a17d62-8bc0-4634-b18d-27d8cbf4499e/Children+playing+and+singing.jpg Description - Excited to participate “One of my students…has severe Autism spectrum behaviors. Other times of the day he was often yelling or physically harming other children. During these lessons he was excited about participating and would be engaged rather distracting himself and others. He was really the most engaged of the group.” https://www.rocknreadproject.org/white-paper daily 0.75 2025-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/e7460012-e368-4e8d-b9e5-ae1ee237432f/A+Song+A_Day+Whitepaper+2025-1.jpg Whitepaper - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.rocknreadproject.org/lettertoadministrator daily 0.75 2026-02-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df12180d612197abe6a30c4/1771193472243-Q3FM0LCD4U971OXWZKHN/unsplash-image-NpyF7rjqmq4.jpg Letter to Administrator - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.