NEWARK -- Students stood with their mouths wide open. Dozens of shiny black cases opened to reveal brand new violins. No dings, no scratches, no snapped strings.

On Tuesday, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation unveiled its donation of 250 instruments to Newark Public schools including about 30 new instruments to students at Camden Street School.

"The word is fascination," said Camden Street School Principal Sam Garrison describing his students' reaction to the donation. "It was electric."

The instruments were donated along with new music stands and supplemental music material to help enhance music education in school. Seven Newark schools will receive a share of the instruments.

At Camden Street School, students in grades K-4 will be able to learn to play the violin. Garrison said the school has only been able to offer guitar classes through a partnership with Little Kids Rock, another organization dedicated to expanding music education in public schools.

"When budget situations across the nation put school systems in crisis and cuts are being made and the arts get cut, we take the heart of why we do what we do," Garrison said. "The contribution of VH1, they helped to bridge the gap with funding ... performing arts is one of those ways to give relevance to learning."

Actor-singer Algee Smith was also on hand to unveil the instruments on Tuesday.

The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit that aims to restore music education programs in public schools. Since its inception in 1997, the group has donated $53 million worth of new instruments to more than 2,000 public schools.

"We're very much visual learners, audio learners and the arts, that's presentation, it's how you bring an idea and something amazing across and when we cut that from schools, we cut the ability of our kids to communicate in powerful ways," Garrison said.

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.