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Guitars in the
Classroom (GITC), founded in 1998, inspires, trains, and equips classroom
teachers to integrate singing and playing guitar into students' daily
experiences. By providing teachers with group classes, access to guitars,
resources, and instructional materials, GITC empowers educators to transform
their classrooms into musical environments. For every teacher who integrates
guitar and music making into a classroom, GITC reaches, on average,
sixty-seven students each week. |
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At this time, GITC is exceptionally grateful to two sponsors who have
stood by this work for many years- D'Addario Strings and Levy's Leathers. In recent months, leaders in
both companies came up with the idea that GITC teachers should have
guitar strings and straps bearing our chalkboard logo- designed for GITC by
Christine D'Addario. These straps and strings are now available
to you GITC teachers as end of year gifts! Thank you to these two great families
for showering our teachers and programs with their
generosity. Boundless thanks go to the D'Addarios- John Jr.,
Joan, Peter, and Christine, Susan, and Trish Johnson, and up to our
friends in Teachers, As you head off to the beach, out into
nature, or into your own backyards this summer, please feel free to bring
your loaner guitars along for the adventure. Some of the best music in this
world is made with good friends under the open sky. Just remember your guitar
is something like a dog. It will feel much better at your side than
waiting in a warm car! Happy summer from your biggest fan, |
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Get To Know Us! Meet Quinn Fitzpatrick What he loves about GITC: "The GITC university programs are
very fulfilling for me personally because I know that each student teacher
will impact thousands of children throughout their career by utilizing music
in the classroom. This makes a positive difference for future generations to
come. GITC gives me the opportunity to live my
purpose in life, which is to inspire people to be their fullest potential
through music." Where Quinn teaches: “Over the past few years, I have
taught classes to Early Childhood Educators and K-8 teachers in |
We Shall Overcome Down By the The Blues This Land is Your Land You Can Get It If You Really Want What a Wonderful World Country Roads Imagine
www.myspace.com/quinnfitzpatrick www.musicandlearning.com
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Jenni Voci is using guitars in her classroom in Oceanside, CA
“GITC has helped me as a teacher in many
ways. First and foremost it has given me a tool to reach out
to students of every culture and every academic level. It has engaged
my students in ways that I rarely see with just curriculum alone. It
continuously puts smiles on all of my students’ faces and it encourages even
the quietest wall flower to join in and have some fun.
We do not have the resources in our district to have pull-out music education
for our students. Unfortunately, the only exposure to music my students
have seen this year is because of this program. Luckily for them, I am
involved with GITC and have learned to use music in conjunction with the
curriculum. My students love when I get out the guitar. They
always ask if we can sing and dance and every time they learn a new song
their faces light up with joy. I can see how the music affects their
mood, behavior and overall well being. Not only does the music fill
their hearts, but it also helps their minds to learn and grow.
One example of this growth in my classroom has to do with some of the dual
language songs we have learned in GITC. I have taught my students a
number of songs that have words in both Spanish and English. Now, I
have students who are usually English speakers aware of different Spanish
words, and those students who are learning English are able to remember and
relate to our language more effectively. It is beautiful to watch them
progress while having so much fun!
I would absolutely recommend this program to any teacher who is interested in
making their classroom a fun and exciting learning environment for their
students. Not only will it help the students in your class, but it will
also enrich your life and bring music to your soul. I have had an
amazing journey through this class and cannot wait to continue on with it in
the years to come. Even those of us who feel like we are not musically
inclined can pull it off. It is easy, fun and completely
painless! I am truly grateful to GITC for this opportunity and it is my
hope that this program will be around for many years to come. Thank you
Jessica and GITC for everything!” |
Why Music Matters “I like guitar because you can
sing camping songs, you can write songs with it. You can have your family
& friends play lullabies to you so that you can go to sleep or if you
have children you can sing and play it to them for fun! My grandpa knows how
to play the guitar, he would play lullabies to me they are really nice. I
think they are fun! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Guitars In The
Classroom On the Big Screen
Your Music Matters
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Meet Nika, Alyssa,
and Chase!
These third grade students, along with their equally
motivated classmates, have been enjoying learning through music with
their inspirational teacher, Ms. Mary Hoover, a participant in GITC classes
for two years, and one of our newest board members! Miss Hoover's class wrote original limericks
to the popular "Limerick Song" as part of their Language Arts
education in March, bringing together a taste of |
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Meet Artist Advisor..
“I grew up as a very lucky child because I had music in my
home all the time. My life would not be the same had this not been
true. I experienced the magic, as well as the transformative effects of music,
amongst family members and later on in life with friends and colleagues.
Today there are endless research studies to prove the efficiency of music as
a tool that sharpens children’s minds, hearts and social/communication
skills. Music feeds them vital nutrients for brains that are building
learning blocks and neural pathways at astounding speeds. The exposure to AND
participation in music and singing by children is perhaps one of the most
profound educational tools we have to offer.” “I can't say enough about the work of GITC. I was a guitarist
from age 5...the thought of having had guitars in my classrooms and being
able to reap the benefits this would have brought, to have been able to share
music and rhythm with classmates, to see and have access to professional
musicians...wow.” Experience the artistry and heart of Vicki Genfan
firsthand. |
Are you a
performing artist? Be a real guitar hero for school children while you're on
tour!
Would you like to receive information on GITC’s Artists
Registry? Please click here… |
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Special Teacher Thank You Gift from Peak Music Stands Contribute one content-oriented,
academic LESSON SHARE that includes a song to teach and lead,
plus a photo of yourself with your guitar in your classroom.
Receive a remarkably light, convenient, and wonderfully designed Peak Music
Stand as our thank you! The first three teachers in each
grade from Pre-K to 8 who submit a lesson share will get one of
these great stands. You can write to our headquarters first to be sure you
are in time to qualify!
RULES
GITC sincerely thanks sponsor
Pamela Liu and Peak Music Stands for
making this important project possible! All shares will be posted online for
free download by interested teachers! E-mail entries here. |
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In The News Meet the Teachers of Pictured from left to right are
Jenni Voci, Pat Soares, Michele Dominguez, Charnee, This brave group of GITC classroom teachers voluntarily joined 300 of their fellow educators, students, parents, superintendents, board trustees and students at the Day of the Teacher Rally. Musically protesting the Governer's proposed budget cuts to education, the courage they displayed in their first public performance inspired others to join them in singing a unified message to the tune of "We Shall Overcome" "Kids deserve
strong schools, kids deserve strong schools, kids deserve strong schools
today. Deep in my heart, I
do believe that kids deserve strong schools today.” |
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Hats off to these Hornblower Cruises
By graciously providing their historic downtown
---------------------------------------------------- Daisy Rock Guitars
GITC welcomes sponsor Daisy Rock Girl Guitars. The
industry’s premiere girl guitar company is well-known for their unique
selection of lightweight, thin-necked instruments ideal for the smaller hands
and lighter builds of females and children alike. The
recent donation of 24 pink Pixies in purple gig bags are helping San
Diego area teachers carry out Daisy Rock’s mission "to get guitars into
the hands of musicians everywhere" while they learn to integrate music
with Guitars in the Classroom. Thanks Daisy Rock! |
One Day Workshop at
The Abbey a Trains 30 San Diego Teachers! As many San Diegans know, Hornblower tours
often give special attention to environmental and community education.
Supporting music in the schools is just one more level of their commitment to
furthering education. Funding for the workshop was raised by a
group of local parents and friends who formed Mission4Music (www.mission4music.org) and produce the
Wee Rock Music Festival annually to promote music instruction in the schools.
San Diego teachers also received
encouragement and support for their music making from Levy’s Leathers,
providing brand new, great looking guitar straps, D’Addario Music Foundation
with the gift of guitar strings, polish, and acoustic guitar survival guides,
Dunlop Manufacturing with level action capos and flat picks, and from NAMM,
The International Music Products Industry whose 2007 grant covered the cost
of developing and printing educational materials for the workshop. Classes will continue in the fall but for
now, teachers and students from 15 different  |
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DTE Rock Concert at UC Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley Education majors
celebrated their graduation with a rock concert featuring three truly
original versions of rock hits including a re-write of "Wild Thing"
which they transformed into "Teaching." Their inspired
references to integrating the arts reveals immense creativity- and the
confidence to exercise artistic license! |
Songwriting in the University
Classroom Want to sing along?
Click here to listen to “Wild Thing” Teaching Sung to the tune of “Wild Thing” Teach-ing Teaching I think I love you |
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Are you preparing to advocate for music education in your local schools? You can get all the resources and research you need at www.supportmusic.com |
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Help
Yourself to Some Great Musical Summer Reading
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Do you know of a
teacher you'd like to inform about Guitars In The Classroom? Please feel free
to forward this newsletter and ask us to
send out a brochure. Are you a teacher
who gave GITC your school email address? To receive the GITC newsletter at
home, please write us with your personal email address. Having trouble
viewing the newsletter? You may view an online version of it here. |
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by Nick Sinutko