Summer Strummers Clubs for students in San Diego
is coming in July! Due to district funding cuts, Level Up runs for 2 weeks, and camps will last 9 hours,
held only at off-campus sites.
When registration opens please
find for our Summer Strummers Clubs at: Amanda's Adaptive Martial Arts, Camp Alpha Omega, and Victoria Mariachi! We'll be keeping you posted...
is coming in July! Due to district funding cuts, Level Up runs for 2 weeks, and camps will last 9 hours,
held only at off-campus sites.
When registration opens please
find for our Summer Strummers Clubs at: Amanda's Adaptive Martial Arts, Camp Alpha Omega, and Victoria Mariachi! We'll be keeping you posted...
What is Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom? (GITC)
GITC Trains Educators & Their Students to Sing, Play, Compose,
& Enhance Learning Any Subject through the Power of Song!
& Enhance Learning Any Subject through the Power of Song!
OUR MISSION: Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom is dedicated to training educators to expand and deepen the role of music in education by elevating student engagement in musical, academic, and social-emotional learning through the integration of joyful, inclusive, hands-on music during the school day and beyond.
OUR WORK: We pursue our mission by training, equipping, and inspiring educators, specialists, school staff, and support service providers to create and lead music in their classrooms, and after school, too, with ukuleles, guitars, percussion, songwriting, and songs for learning. We also provide direct services for students through classroom teaching artist residencies, and extended learning opportunities that take place after school and during winter, spring, and summmer breaks.
OUR WORK: We pursue our mission by training, equipping, and inspiring educators, specialists, school staff, and support service providers to create and lead music in their classrooms, and after school, too, with ukuleles, guitars, percussion, songwriting, and songs for learning. We also provide direct services for students through classroom teaching artist residencies, and extended learning opportunities that take place after school and during winter, spring, and summmer breaks.
OUR TEACHING APPROACH: Our unique work is based on child development, educational psychology, educational therapy, academic content instruction, and best practices in social-emotional learning. This deep foundation supports diverse learners to succeed. Everybody develops musical skills at a forgiving pace infused with differentiated instruction and collaborative songwriting. Together they build confidence, competence, and community. Teachers acquire this new way to engage students in learning fully, and students find joy and fascination in musical learning.
OUR VISION: We envision the time when every student has access to learning through music as a vital and integral part of their education, from preschool through high school, during the school day and beyond.
OUR SERVICES: GITC provides free training 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 Vital!
Your tax-deductible gift makes a difference.
Check us out on Guidestar's Candid and Charity Navigator
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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 [email protected] |
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