Infuse U.S. Classrooms with Music for Learning!

This summer, Pk-12 teachers have been singing, strumming and songwriting new lyrics for learning in  intensive GITC classes! Over 100 teachers have come through week-long trainings with a handful of GITC faculty members.
These week-long experiences give teachers a chance to focus on music without the distractions of the school year and the benefits are enormous. They advance a full level in a week, write new material for their upcoming classes, grow as music leaders, role models and academic songwriters and make supportive friendships that last over the years.

Teachers have taken intensive week-long classes in San Diego, Santa Barbara and Mariposa County, California, coming from communities and schools from all over these regions.

We are extremely grateful to each of you who has helped us train teachers this summer and made sure we could put instruments into their capable hands. Thank you!

And just last month, we were honored by top inclusion in this online article from Musician's Frirend's "The Hub" about music related not-for-profits Eight Nonprofits Changing the World with Music .

The summer months have seen some magnificent artist advocacy happening through concerts, live events and social media from our superstars. This is very important to the future of GITC because artists inspire community members to get involved at the local level.

Cody Lovaas finished up five school concerts just before school ended for the summer including one at our Title I for the Arts pilot school, Normal Heights Elementary and one at our Turnaround Arts school, Luther Burbank Elementary. And Brent Paschke (guitarist for Pharrell Williams) along with GRAMMY award winning fingerstyle master Laurence Juber (formerly of Wings) helped GITC founder Jess Baron co-teach an all-day workshop for K-5 music educators in Los Angeles Unified School District. Then in July, Jefferson Starship, Starship and acoustic jazz wizard Craig Chaquico got busy educating fans about GITC on radio, television and stage... and gave a great concert, during which GITC conducted a Live auction, including a Craig Chaquico signed guitar, that brought in $6000 to GITC programs!" We are excited to partner up with these passionate GITC artists to expand kids' musical horizons.

Also in June, our founder and director, Jessica Baron and Guitars in the Classroom were honored by the My Hero Foundation with the  prestigious 2015 My Hero Award during an evening celebrating heroism through music education at the Herb Alpert Foundation We hope you'll enjoy the video created to honor our leader and our work through the link included in this enewsletter.

Each time people hear about our non-profit, more children get the chance to learn through music in their schools. This is one reason the artists and the awards are so important. Artists have the power to inspire their fans and their fans have the power to join all of you who are helping to change the tide of musical access in public education. Together we can get this done.

Fall classes will be ready for teacher enrollment later this month and we are expanding classes quite a lot in 2015-16 thanks to your commitment to making music a part of learning for every child. Thank you for staying with us!

With over 50% of American children living at or below the poverty level, it's crucial to their success in school that we make learning positive, creative, supportive and collaborative. Nothing has both the power to bring us human beings together and uplift our spirits quite like making music!

Into a brighter future with your participation and our gratitude for all you!  Thank you from all of us working with GITC. Please keep giving. Your charity matters.

Warmly,

Jess