“Body and Soul” is a song by American recording artist Anita Baker, released in 1994 as the lead single in support of her fifth album, Rhythm of Love (1994). Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, “What a pleasure it is to welcome Baker back to the fold. On this glorious peek into her new “Rhythm Of Love” opus, she gives us the beautiful tones that have set her apart from the typical R&B diva, warmly embracing a soothing retro-pop ballad arrangement. A bit more adult and sophisticated than top 40 is currently programming, but we pray that tastemakers will make room for something so creatively satisfying. It’s so rare that we are given music of this high caliber.”[1] Steve Baltin from Cash Box said, “Clearly Baker from the first note, the song stands out in the crowded R&B field because of its slightly jazzy feel. A winner all the way.”[2] Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian noted that “her lazy phrasing deftly lifts the string-saturated Body And Soul out of Whitney Houston-ville”. Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, “Soul music’s best female balladeer gives a lesson in body language. Advise listeners of lovers’ radio to dim the lights, move their body gently and let their heart speak.” James Hamilton from Music Week’s RM Dance Update deemed it a “gorgeous bluesy piano played wailing husky gospel-jazz-soul waltz”.

Hi, my name is Ryan Van Tuyl, and since 2004 I’ve helped thousands of kids learn piano, singing, guitar, bass, drums, and songwriting in schools all over the world. The programs I’ve created teach kids how to achieve their musical dreams and become better, hardworking individuals through learning to play and perform rock, pop, hip-hop, blues, metal, and jazz music. Graduates of my programs have attended prestigious music colleges and universities. However, these programs have only been able to exist in middle-to-upper-class communities, where parents can afford to fund music education for their children directly.

While all of this has been a fantastic experience, it has left out kids who attend schools in underprivileged, more diverse communities without funding for modern music education. Schools and districts in these areas lack funding for the equipment, teachers, curriculum, and support necessary to facilitate rock-band-style programs like the ones I’ve created.

My mission was to tackle this head-on and bring these exceptional programs to students in economically challenged areas, so I sold my music schools and am launching The Van Tuyl Music Foundation to forever change music education. Our foundation will directly provide the funding for the equipment, instruction, curriculum, and support necessary to facilitate these programs.