For a Cause

Music has the power to excite, inspire and move children. Planting seeds early is the key to a life-long love of music, which has been shown to help children learn better, have higher self-esteem and find greater success in life. Unfortunately, as school budgets continue to tighten, the supply of seeds is growing scarce.

Providing those seeds and nurturing that love is the goal of a July 11 benefit concert in California's Silicon Valley featuring performers Sara Bareilles, Eoin Harrington and Karmina. The night's theme is 'I Do It for Love' in honor of Bareilles' famous "Love Song."

Organizers say Bareilles is a great example of a musician who struggled to make it. She spent a year presenting songs to her label and received cool responses. "I started to get really insecure about it, and then I got really pissed off at myself for caring what anybody thought. ... I went to a rehearsal space one day. I sat down and wrote something for me. And 'Love Song' basically wrote itself. It's totally honest."

And staying true to herself and her love of music paid off. Besides winning two 2009 Grammy nominations for Best Song and Best Female Pop Vocalist, Bareilles holds the distinction of being the first artist to sell more than 1 million copies of a song on itunes.

Driving the event is Heart of Silicon Valley (HOSV), a volunteer-based non-profit that has been producing benefit concerts since 2002. Proceeds have been used to support a variety of programs from supporting cancer patients to art and music mentoring.

"Knowing how important music has been to us, we wanted to create an event that celebrates the songwriter in all of us," said Yvonne Wolters, Director of Heart of Silicon Valley. "The 7-11 Benefit Concert, ' I Do It for Love', is about the love of music, and the art of the song. From the charities to the musicians, music is at the heart of Silicon Valley."

The funds raised will benefits two local organizations - Music For Minors, an organization that brings music education programs to California schools that otherwise would have limited or no music education at all; and West Coast Songwriters, a group that helps songwriters improve their writing and mentors those who want to make music a career.

"‘I Do It for Love' is the reason for many musicians to learn, write and perform songs," Wolters said. "From school age children to adults, music becomes a passion, a time for self-expression. Learning music at a young age lays the foundation. Recent studies have shown that individuals exposed to music education are more likely to be engaged citizens, go on to higher education, have higher paying jobs and strive more for personal excellence. It's imperative that music education start at a young age and continue through adulthood. Music For Minors, West Coast Songwriters and Heart of Silicon Valley have the same dream - support of music education."

The evening will also include a reception and silent auction. It will be held at the Atherton estate of Heidi Roizen and Dr David Mohler. Tickets are available at www.hosv.org or by calling 650-856-8041.