Rock 'n' Read Project

What Rock 'n' Read Project does

Rock 'n' Read Project is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 by Bill Jones and Ann C. Kay that develops early-literacy skills in young children through singing and basic music instruction. Its core product is "A Song A Day: Brain Prep for Pre-Readers," a 50-lesson sequenced curriculum for 4-, 5-, and 6-year-olds designed to build auditory processing, auditory memory, phonological awareness, and beat synchronization — all correlates of proficient reading. The organization complements the curriculum with a free Brain Train Activities resource for parents and caregivers, a free Musical Fitness Assessment diagnostic, and educator workshops. Materials are available in English, Spanish, and Somali. The organization operates with a core staff of two (the co-founders) and a five-member board that includes a 2023 GRAMMY Music Educator's Award recipient.

The business model combines three revenue streams: tax-deductible donations from individuals (facilitated through GiveMN), one-time perpetual license sales of the A Song A Day curriculum through a resale partnership with Ventris Learning, and fees for in-person educator workshops. The organization does not disclose revenue, runs no proprietary software or API, and relies on earned media, its Squarespace website, newsletters, YouTube, and podcast appearances for top-of-funnel demand generation, while educator workshops and school-district outreach drive bottom-of-funnel conversion. The go-to-market motion is event- and content-driven, targeting PreK and kindergarten educators, parents/caregivers, and occasionally school districts and organizations.

Historically, Rock 'n' Read operated a mobile reading lab using a converted city bus and implemented the third-party TUNEin to Reading software program for 2,500 students across 25 schools under a $600,000 Minnesota Legislature grant (2016-2021). That software is no longer implemented by the organization, which has since pivoted to its own curriculum. Outcome data from the state project — showing average 1-year reading gains after 13.5-14 hours of use and 77% of previously below-grade-level first graders reaching at/near grade level after 3 months — forms the evidence backbone for the current product. In 2026 the organization published a proposal for a statewide "MN Musical Fitness Movement," signaling a shift from individual curriculum sales toward policy-level adoption.

Name

Rock 'n' Read Project

Legal name

Rock 'n' Read Project

Website

https://rocknreadproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rock 'n' Read Project is a Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops early-literacy and pre-reading skills in 4-6 year-olds through a 50-lesson singing-and-music curriculum, free assessments, and educator workshops, serving PreK and kindergarten teachers, parents, and school districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Literacy Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Educational Support Services (611710)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7) (EDAMANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creative Arts, Music & Movement Content (EDAGACAG), Early Literacy & Phonics Programs (EDAMAJAA), K–12 Remedial Reading & Literacy Intervention (EDANAJAA)

Keywords

• Early childhood literacy
• Music-based education
• Pre-reading curriculum
• Brain development activities
• Educator workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Minnetonka Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Curriculum Sales: Sale of A Song A Day curriculum to schools, educators, and parents. Available through Ventris Learning.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting early childhood literacy through music.
3. Workshop Fees: Fees for educator workshops teaching how to use singing and music skills to develop pre-reading skills.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rock 'n' Read Project is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses singing and music skills to help young children develop foundational brain and pre-reading skills. It sells and distributes its "A Song A Day: Brain Prep for Pre-Readers" curriculum and related activity cards, offers educator workshops, and provides free downloadable "Brain Train" activities and a Musical Fitness Assessment to support pre-reading readiness in early childhood classrooms and homes.

Product overview

Rock 'n' Read Project is a Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers a suite of music-based literacy programs and resources. The core offerings include Brain Train Activities (free pre-reading activities), A Song A Day curriculum (50 structured lessons for 4-6 year olds), and Musical Fitness Assessment (free skill assessment). These products work together as a comprehensive program: Brain Train Activities provide foundational activities for parents and caregivers, A Song A Day delivers structured classroom instruction, and the Musical Fitness Assessment measures progress. The organization also provides educator workshops and recommends TUNE into Reading software for older struggling readers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A Song A Day: Brain Prep for Pre-Readers Music-based pre-reading curriculum that uses daily songs and structured activities to develop foundational brain and pre-reading skills in young children. Designed for preK and kindergarten classrooms and for use by parents at home; purchased directly or via Ventris Learning.
• Brain Train Activities (Free Download) Free downloadable set of music-based pre-reading activities that introduce teachers and parents to Rock 'n' Read's song-and-activity methodology. Used as a top-of-funnel resource to drive adoption of the full curriculum.
• Musical Fitness Assessment (Free) Free music-based assessment that evaluates young children's pre-reading readiness using song-based activities. Designed for kindergarten teachers and parents to identify children who need additional support before formal reading instruction.
• Educator Workshops Live training workshops for early childhood educators and kindergarten teachers on how to use the "A Song A Day" curriculum and related resources in the classroom. Delivered by the founders and used to support district- and program-level adoption.
• Sing Today, Read Forever Activity Cards Printed activity card sets that accompany the "A Song A Day" curriculum, providing hands-on music and pre-reading activities for children. Available in English, Spanish, and Somali to support multilingual classrooms and homes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children gain 1 year (avg.) in reading after 13.5-14 hours of singing-based music program usage
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• The Teddy Bear BandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization offering fun, lively concerts that motivate young children to sing, move, and practice basic musical skills. Contact through teddybearband.com.
• TUNEin to ReadingminorOthersRock 'n' Read previously implemented TUNEin to Reading (TiR), a singing-based software program, with 2,500 students in 25 schools through a MN Legislature grant (2016-2021). Rock 'n' Read no longer implements TiR, but it remains available for home and school use from the company TUNEin to Reading.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Jumpstart: National nonprofit focused on early childhood education and literacy for preschoolers, working through college volunteers and partner preschools. Comparable as a national-scope early literacy nonprofit serving low-income communities.
• Kindermusik: Established franchise-based early childhood music education program serving infants through age 7. Overlaps with Rock 'n' Read on the early-childhood music education category but is broader in scope (no literacy outcome focus) and serves as an incumbent brand in the same educator/parent segment.
• Waterford Institute (Waterford.org): Nonprofit delivering early literacy and reading readiness programs to PreK-3 children nationwide. Comparable as a larger, established player in the early literacy intervention space serving similar school district and educator customers with broader K-3 reach.
• Music Together: Long-running early childhood music and movement program for infants through age 8. Compares to Rock 'n' Read on the early-childhood music/movement foundation but as a broader incumbent not specifically tied to literacy outcomes.
• ABCmouse (Age of Learning): Large-scale early learning platform covering reading, math, and music for ages 2-8. Comparable as a broad incumbent in early childhood digital literacy with overlapping end users (parents, schools) but a substantially wider product surface than Rock 'n' Read's music-focused curriculum.
• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): Long-running national nonprofit focused on children's literacy from birth through age 8. Comparable as an established incumbent in the early-childhood literacy nonprofit category serving educators, parents, and districts.

Direct peers

• TUNEin to Reading: Direct peer and former implementation partner of Rock 'n' Read. TUNEin to Reading offers a singing-based software program that uses vocal music to support reading fluency and comprehension for struggling readers. Closely aligned with Rock 'n' Read's music-to-literacy thesis and the same target age band.
• Starfall Education: Nonprofit provider of free/low-cost early literacy tools for PreK through grade 2, including phonemic awareness and pre-reading content. Directly comparable as a nonprofit early-literacy specialist; differs in delivery (digital/app-forward vs. Rock 'n' Read's music-curriculum approach) but targets the same educator/parent customers.

Emerging players

• First Steps in Music (Dr. John Feierabend): Research-based early childhood music and movement curriculum for infants through age 8. Comparable as a researcher-driven early-childhood music program with a defined sequence model, sharing Rock 'n' Read's emphasis on developmentally sequenced music skill-building.

Others

• Ventris Learning: Publisher and reseller through which Rock 'n' Read distributes its A Song A Day curriculum. Comparable as an adjacent educational publishing and literacy product channel partner rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rock-n-read-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rock 'n' Read Project