Los Angeles, CA - August 23, 2000 - The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation today announced the donation of Boomwhackers® Tuned Percussion Tubes by Whacky Music, Inc., for their music distribution program to schools. The tubes will be used in the Foundation's distribution program in the U.S.

As part of the agreement, Whacky Music will donate a classroom quantity of instruments to five schools in each of the 50 states throughout the Foundation, plus schools in Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. This is the first time that a single manufacturer has undertaken a comprehensive donation program of this magnitude with the Foundation. The total donation of over 1000 C Major Diatonic Scale sets to over 250 schools has a suggested retail value exceeding $25,000.

Whacky Music's Boomwhackers Musical Tubes are made of brightly colored plastic and tuned by length to different color-coded musical notes. The tubes are being used by music educators in thousands of schools, and are also used by music therapists and team-building, motivation and creativity consultants. Producing a unique sound, they have been used on recordings and soundtracks and in numerous professional performances. They have received a Parents' Choice Gold Award, a Dr. Toy's Best 100 Children's Products, and an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2000 Gold Seal. Made in the U.S.A., these musical tubes are sold in a dozen countries. The company is based in Sedona, Arizona.

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation (www.mhopus.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting instrumental music nationwide. The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation partners with businesses, schools and communities to provide new and refurbished musical instruments to qualified schools and individuals. The Foundation was founded by Grammy Award-winning composer Michael Kamen following his work on the film that the Foundation is named after. Celebrating their third anniversary, the Foundation has donated approximately $1.2 million worth of instruments to over 150 programs and individuals in the U.S. to date.

For more information contact:

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation  
Gillian Baylow, Director of Programs and Operations
818-784-6787

Over two million of Whacky Music's Boomwhackers Musical Tubes have been sold. They are tuned by length to different color-coded musical notes and made of brightly colored plastic. In addition to being enjoyed by children, the tubes are being used by music educators around the world, music therapists, drum circle facilitators and team-building, motivation and creativity consultants. Producing a unique sound, they have been used on recordings and soundtracks and in numerous professional performances. The Boomwhackers C Major Diatonic Scale set recently received a Best 25 Toys in 25 Years Award from Parents' Choice. Other awards include the Parents' Choice Gold Award, a Dr. Toy's Best 100 Children's Products, and an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal. The company is based in Sedona, Arizona.