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VH1 Save the Music is dedicated to bringing music education back into the public school system. It began when VH1 President John Sykes visited a Brooklyn elementary school (P.S.58) where he was Principal for a Day. He saw the poor condition of the violins the children were playing and felt that the situation could be improved. Initiating a campaign to bring musical instruments to the New York City public schools, Mr. Sykes and his VH1 colleagues, working with the Chancellor Rudolph F. Crew and his staff, launched a drive that sought donations of instruments from the community. Last spring, following a three-month public service campaign on VH1 and Time Warner Cable, 6,500 new and used instruments and other music-related equipment were presented to the Chancellor. One manufacturer alone provided 3,000 instruments, with financial commitments from other companies leading to the purchase of $400,000 worth of instruments.

In explaining why this project is so important, Sykes has noted: "We now have solid proof that early music instruction builds brain power and positively affects basic math and verbal skills. In partnership with its affiliates VH1 is committed to getting this important message across to our viewers and to the decision makers in our government."

President Clinton, in congratulating Mr. Sykes and VH1 on this effort, has stated: " I appreciate your dedication to enriching music education programs in our nation’s public schools. Our children are our most precious resource, and initiatives such as the ‘Save the Music’ campaign are important steps in providing our children every opportunity to develop their full potential." Chancellor Crew adds, "John Sykes and VH1 are to be congratulated not only for recognizing the need for instruments in the New York City Public Schools, but also for believing in our children. John and our many donor-partners know that putting an instrument in a child’s hands can unlock more than musical talent – it can open a child’s ability to learn all subjects through the use of different methods of expression."

The success of VH1 Save the Music in New York has led to its expansion across the country. With a five-year extension of the program, it plans to deliver one million musical instruments to a minimum of fifty communities by the year 2002. VH1 Save the Music also includes a mentoring program which will allow high school and college musicians to assist with elementary schools’ music rehearsals and practices.