WINTER ONLINE COURSE REGISTRATION FOR EDUCATORS IS OPEN NOW!
See Who is Donating to Make a Difference! Click Here
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SEEN OUR BLOG PAGE? Look who is making a difference through music! Check out our new blog with heartwarming news about winter donors, and how the family of Andrew David Triplett is helping GITC bring more musical learning with guitars to teens in underserved communities this year with a remarkable gift! Read more here...
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What is Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom?
OUR MISSION
Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom is dedicated to expanding and elevating
the role of music in education by training educators, students, and volunteers
to infuse all learning with the joy of making music and the power of song.
We are pleased to serve in person & virtually, during the school day, and beyond.
OUR WORK
Anyone can learn to make music, inspired by the power of song with our developmental method and inclusive teaching approach. You don't have to be born with a musical "gift." Some people have an easier time making music. But GITC makes it easier for everyone. Originally developed for young children, our approach helps educators and specialists of all kinds, and their students from diapers to diplomas, to find their voices, and learn to play and write their own songs.
We welcome shower singers, and total beginners to our classes and workshops. No prior musical experience is needed. We also train music educators to work more developmentally, and to adapt music for students with special needs. Whether you are a early childhood caregiver, a general classroom or special education teacher, a specialist, a support services provider, a music educator, a school staff member or administrator, or a volunteer, we are here to support your musical journey. You can make a profound difference for young people when you learn to share and lead music with GITC.
Our goal is to instill and encourage musicality in all kinds of learners, everyday, for all the good it accomplishes, and the good you can do for yourself and others by sharing it.
Our grassroots efforts are restoring music making in daily life, preserving the precious canon of children's folk songs, and strengthening American musical traditions. We are spreading the love of guitar and ukulele, and teaching simple songwriting for education and self-expression. These things make life sweeter, and schools more welcoming.
GITC improves quality of life, too. Making music reduces stress, regulates breathing, improves focus and attention, unites students in a positive activity, and supports mental well-being. Everybody feels better and does better with music in the classroom.
Anyone serving young children and students is welcome to participate.
In addition to training education professionals, we also provide direct services for students during and after school, and in the summers. Schools can hire us to provide classroom teaching artist residencies and after school "expanded learning" Strummers Clubs for children and teens. To find out more, please drop us a line at [email protected].
OUR TEACHING APPROACH
GITC's innovative work is based on child development, educational psychology, educational therapy, academic content instruction, and best practices in social-emotional learning. This deep foundation supports every kind of learner to succeed.
To make a difference for children and youth, we begin by training education professionals of every kind, serving from early childhood through high school. Previous musical experience is not required. Everybody develops musical skills together, at an achievable pace, gradually developing confidence and competence. We typically teach in a circle where participants can see and hear each other, encourage one another, and blend their voices, creating a sense of belonging. We de-emphasize the traditional expert-novice model of music instruction in favor of cultivating a sense of belonging, safety, and community that supports individual self-expression, and joyful, shared musical experiences.
OUR VISION
We envision the time when every teacher, specialist, parent, and student has access to learning or teaching through music as a vital and integral part of developing authentic self-expression, approaching everyday learning with joy and creativity, from preschool through high school.
OUR SERVICES
GITC provides instruction for educators, capacity-building classroom teaching artist residencies for teachers with their students, music training for faculties, master classes with accomplished artists, expanded learning after school and in the summers, and specialized training in adaptive music.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE!
Our work is supported by individual donations, charitable in-kind contributions, corporate and community giving, foundation grants, affiliate partnerships, and participating schools.
Please Donate to Keep Our Programs Free!
Your tax-deductible gift makes a difference.
Check us out on Guidestar's Candid and Charity Navigator
Our Core Values
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WHAT'S NEW? COFFEE's ON!
Delicious Arabica coffee from the Acoustic Coffee Company! Experience two unique blends created for and with GITC Artist Ambassadors Laurence Juber and Jake Shimabukuro! Explore & Shop Here |
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+19,000
educators trained since 2000 |
40
states are represented by the educators who are training in our programs |
24
years bringing music to cross curricular learning from coast to coast |
+260,000
students receive free musical learning through GITC each school year |
WHY GITC?
Through music, students are connecting to the material with every part of themselves. Our educators report that the GITC approach improves student enthusiasm, engagement, literacy, academics, and social-emotional awareness.
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Get Started
I'm An Educator
I want to bring music to my district, school, classroom, or special learning environment!
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I'm An Advocate
Sing it loud, I believe in music and I'm proud! I'm ready to learn how to get involved and be a part of the solution.
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I'm a Parent/Guardian
I want my children to learn to make music at school or online.
How do I get started? |
How We Serve
GITC is a 24 year old 501(c)3 nonprofit, funded by grants and individual, community, and corporate donations. We have trained over 19,000 educators to teach through the power of song in 40 states since 2000. They are collectively reaching well over a million students with free music during the school day.
In 2021 we added after school music clubs for students in San Diego, California with support from the San Diego Foundation through the pandemic recovery program here in our hometown called Level Up San Diego.
GITC professional development (PD) courses train education professionals to become capable and confident song leaders for learning. The academic focus of our work integrating songs for learning during the school day includes literacy, math, science, social studies, and social emotional learning. At no cost to the individual participants in our trainings, we offer these courses in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. Most GITC PDs take place virtually after school with a few on weekends.
With weekly, ongoing classes and sequential levels of training, they learn to engage students in all of these subjects through classroom strumming, singing, and collaborative student songwriting.
In California, we also provide co-teaching artist classroom residencies for participating, highly engaged educators. These can be supported by school districts, individual schools, grants, or contributions.
GITC programs make learning fun, inspiring, and memorable for teachers and students of all abilities. These include programs for English language learners as well as for students in in-person and virtual settings.
GITC is a 24 year old 501(c)3 nonprofit, funded by grants and individual, community, and corporate donations. We have trained over 19,000 educators to teach through the power of song in 40 states since 2000. They are collectively reaching well over a million students with free music during the school day.
In 2021 we added after school music clubs for students in San Diego, California with support from the San Diego Foundation through the pandemic recovery program here in our hometown called Level Up San Diego.
GITC professional development (PD) courses train education professionals to become capable and confident song leaders for learning. The academic focus of our work integrating songs for learning during the school day includes literacy, math, science, social studies, and social emotional learning. At no cost to the individual participants in our trainings, we offer these courses in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. Most GITC PDs take place virtually after school with a few on weekends.
With weekly, ongoing classes and sequential levels of training, they learn to engage students in all of these subjects through classroom strumming, singing, and collaborative student songwriting.
In California, we also provide co-teaching artist classroom residencies for participating, highly engaged educators. These can be supported by school districts, individual schools, grants, or contributions.
GITC programs make learning fun, inspiring, and memorable for teachers and students of all abilities. These include programs for English language learners as well as for students in in-person and virtual settings.
PLEASE GIVE HERE TO CHANGE LIVES
Our Core Values
Creativity, Integrity,
Cross-Curricular Learning,
Caring & Respect
Well-Being for All Students & Educators
Creativity, Integrity,
Cross-Curricular Learning,
Caring & Respect
Well-Being for All Students & Educators
When teachers become comfortable enough to begin leading songs for learning, they report that student enthusiasm, engagement, literacy and academic skills, and student well-being improves. Eventually most also begin teaching ukulele or guitar as a part of daily learning. We help them procure instruments thanks to our awesome sponsors! Students begin strumming, singing and songwriting together and this joyful approach to learning together often inspires an upbeat and artistic shift in school culture.
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OFFERING MUSICAL TRAINING ALSO REQUIRES SUPPLIES!
With help from contributors and sponsors, GITC places instruments in their hands along with resources to acquire more so that each student can learn to strum and sing at school. Teachers are not asked to pay for this, ever. We help them find resources and give everything we can. Your donations make this possible! Through GITC's free, inclusive approach, every student in participating classrooms learns to make music with their teacher.
With help from contributors and sponsors, GITC places instruments in their hands along with resources to acquire more so that each student can learn to strum and sing at school. Teachers are not asked to pay for this, ever. We help them find resources and give everything we can. Your donations make this possible! Through GITC's free, inclusive approach, every student in participating classrooms learns to make music with their teacher.
Music Education with Music Integration - An Interdependent Vision
GITC believes that every student deserves a well-rounded education including weekly music integration for cross-curricular learning and also instruction in music taught by a credentialed music educator. We invite you to read up on the multitude of benefits in our blogs and also visit the NAMM Foundation website for music advocacy.
GITC stands with districts dedicated to strengthening their music education programs. We offer music faculties free training in our approach and select from among the participating music specialists, compassionate and patient instructors to teach music integration with GITC to their colleagues. When music specialists and classroom teachers team up, they can build a culture of music together where hearts, minds, hands and hallways are filled with song.
GITC stands with districts dedicated to strengthening their music education programs. We offer music faculties free training in our approach and select from among the participating music specialists, compassionate and patient instructors to teach music integration with GITC to their colleagues. When music specialists and classroom teachers team up, they can build a culture of music together where hearts, minds, hands and hallways are filled with song.
Contact Us
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Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom
National Headquarters Mailing Address: 1286 University Ave, #389 San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 840-1010 For our instrument shipping address or directions to our office, please email us at [email protected] |
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