Dear Teachers, Parents, and Students,

Thank you for visiting my national education website, designed to bring the beauty and power of music to you in your home or school.

I am especially grateful to WHYY and Carmen Productions for producing my new TV show, Breaking the Rules, which gave me the opportunity to not only sing the classical music I have come to know and love - but to also sing many other forms of music, which I also like to sing (mostly when I am not on stage). These include Jazz, Gospel, R&B and pop.

One of the many things people expect schools to do these days is to inspire students to be creative. It is widely believed by educators and psychologists that helping young minds tap their creativity is just as important as mastering Math and English skills. My mother certainly thought so, for every Thursday night while I was growing up in a troubled inner-city neighborhood of Washington D.C. (after homework and chores) we had music night. The only music we listened to and sang was gospel music!

I am eternally grateful to my mother for providing such inspiration and support. I know firsthand how the arts and a good education gave my life a real sense of direction, a real purpose. Today, as I travel from one international engagement to another, I proudly serve in the appointed role of Cultural Ambassador for the United States. I am most proud of this than anything else in my career!

I hope you will use the materials provided on these web pages to learn more about music, other cultures, and yourself. But most of all, I hope you will find that being creative will help you in all that you do - no matter what career path you choose.

Enjoy the curriculum!

Denyce Graves