Pop star Katy Perry says she couldn't afford music lessons when she was younger.

The `Roar` hitmaker says she didn't have "the best educational system" as she moved around a lot growing up, but she has credited one of her former teachers for inspiring her to get involved with the charity DonorChoose.org now that she is a successful artist, reports people.com.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to experience the best educational system, because my parents moved around a lot. I was often pulled out of school - even in the middle of the year.

`I ended up being home-schooled and going to really strange Christian private schools before I left to pursue my dream. But even though I didn't always have the greatest education, I was influenced by a lot of my music instructors,` she said.

Now that Perry is established and successful in the music industry, she is hoping to put her experience to good use to help others.

"When I was about 13, there was one woman named Agatha Danoff who gave me Italian-opera vocal lessons at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. I couldn't really afford the lessons, but she found a way to give them to me anyway.

`So I look at partnering with Staples for the Make Roar Happen campaign benefiting DonorChoose.org as my way of paying it forward. I want to remind people that a small gesture can make a large impact on the very basic materials classrooms need for teachers to help students reach their fullest potential,` she said.