Wild Tunes and American Music Academy Join Forces to Bring Live Music and Calm to Houston-Area Shelter Animals
HOUSTON – For homeless animals, a gentle song can offer comfort, calm, and connection. That spirit is at the heart of a new partnership between Wild Tunes, a Houston-area nonprofit founded by Houstonian Yuvi Agarwal at age 10 and dedicated to improving the lives of shelter animals through live music, and the American Music Academy (AMA), a Houston-area music school.
Through this new partnership, Wild Tunes will draw on AMA’s pool of student musicians and their talented teachers to perform for animals living in local shelters, helping to better prepare them for fostering and adoption.
Laura and Wyatt Coleman, co-founders of AMA, are passionate about music and animal welfare. They say the partnership with Wild Tunes is an ideal fit for their mission.
“Partnering with Wild Tunes is incredibly special to both of us. Music and animal welfare are two causes that take up large spaces in our hearts, and we are thrilled to collaborate with local shelters for the betterment of our students and the animals who will be soothed by them,” said Laura. “The joy of music should be known and experienced by all, including our canine and feline friends.”
Through the collaboration, AMA will encourage its community to practice their music at animal shelters and perform at various adoption events. Wild Tunes will host a monthly AMA performance series at a partner shelter, debuting under the title “Jazz for Paws.”
“Our mission is to encourage musicians of all ages and skill levels to use their talent to help reduce stress in homeless animals and create a more joyful, uplifting shelter environment for everyone,” said Priyanka Agarwal, executive director of Wild Tunes and Yuvi’s mom. “This partnership connects us with an exceptionally talented pool of students who also care about animal welfare. I commend Laura and Wyatt for their community-driven vision and their willingness to channel their musical expertise to teach children compassion toward animals at a young age.”
Founded in the spring of 2023, Yuvi got the idea to create Wild Tunes after playing his keyboard for his dog, Bozo. He watched as the music instantly calmed Bozo and changed the dog’s demeanor. That idea flourished, and three years later, Wild Tunes has a presence at shelters across 10 states.
“I’m so excited to work with fellow musicians at the AMA, who will help Wild Tunes touch more homeless animals with the magic of their music,” he said.
To formally kick off the partnership, Wild Tunes and AMA hosted a summer open house at two partner shelters to educate interested students in the program, allowing them to experience it first-hand.
For more information about Wild Tunes, visit www.wildtunes.org and follow the organization on social media. Learn more about AMA at www.theamericanmusicacademy.com.
About Wild Tunes
Wild Tunes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to soothing shelter animals through live music. Founded by Yuvi Agarwal at the age of 10, the organization encourages volunteers to play musical instruments or sing at participating shelters to enrich the lives of homeless animals. The program helps animals build trust with humans, increasing their chances of being fostered or adopted. Originally launched in Houston, Wild Tunes now operates in multiple states, has more than 750 registered volunteers, and continues to expand nationwide. For more information, visit www.wildtunes.org.
About American Music Academy
The American Music Academy is a Houston-based music school dedicated to making music education accessible to all ages. Founded by classically trained musicians Laura and Wyatt Coleman, AMA pairs inspired students with dedicated instructors across a full range of instruments, including piano, violin, viola, guitar, voice, cello, and drums. With locations in Meyerland and Bellaire, AMA is committed to enriching the Houston community through the joy of music. Learn more at theamericanmusicacademy.com.
