Keeping the Beat is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting K-12 music and arts education programs in rural Oregon through a variety of programs including a network of events, a shared pool of funds that schools can apply for, a school assembly program and outreach education for community stakeholders.

We are currently looking to partner with events, schools, performers, sponsors, donors and volunteers. If you are interested in more information and in possibly participating in some way, please subscribe to our email list and/or contact us.

Watch the Oregon Art Beat (OPB) video segment about the Carter Family show at the American Roots Music Festival where "Keeping the Beat" was launched in October 2007.

Performers at the American Roots Music Festival

The images above are from our fundraising event, the American Roots Music Festival in October 2007, featuring 3rd generation Carter Family members John Carter Cash (grandson of Maybelle Carter and son of June Carter and Johnny Cash), his wife Laura Cash, and Dale Jett (grandson of AP & Sara Carter). The event raised $10,000 for school music programs in the surrounding rural school districts.

News and Events

  • 06/13/08 — Today the Keeping the Beat Board of Directors voted to support the Portland Creative Conference as a fiscally-sponsored nonprofit project of Keeping the Beat.  The Creative Conference planning committee and KTB leadership see strong alignment around supporting and celebrating creativity and the arts in a variety of forms.
  • 03/18/08 — A recent music program performed at the Sublimity School was made possible only by funds raised by the American Roots Music Festival and distributd by Keeping the Beat, according to music teacher Patty Keeton in an article in the Stayton Mail newspaper.
  • 02/01/08 — Keeping the Beat distributes a total of $10,000 to school music programs in the North Santiam, Cascade, Jefferson and Salem/Keizer School Districts with proceeds from the 2007 American Roots Music Festival, an event that has raised over $24,000 for rural Oregon school music programs so far.
  • 01/31/08 — The KTB Board of Directors has unanimously approved the appointment of John Carter Cash and his wife Laura Cash to the KTB Board of Directors.  For a complete list, see About / Board of Directors.
  • 01/19/08 — Keeping the Beat will be at the Florence Winter Folk Festival, a new Festival partner.
  • 01/03/08 — Oregon Art Beat airs video segment on the Carter Family show at the American Roots Music Festival where Keeping the Beat was launched.

SEE ALL NEWS & EVENTS •>