What is Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom?
OUR MISSION
Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom empowers educators and students of all ages and abilities to make music that strengthens learning, belonging, and well-being. Through training in hands-on, inclusive music that enhances teaching any subject, GITC builds caring classrooms where every learner can engage, create, and thrive.
OUR VISION
A future where students who sing, play instruments, and compose songs in schools expand their potential and grow into adults who read more deeply, connect more fully, and navigate all of life with greater creativity, resilience, and well-being.
Who Learns with Us?
OUR WORK
Anyone serving in Education, regardless of their role, is welcome to learn to make music with us virtually, or in person as available. Training is donation-based. We teach you to play uke, guitar, sing, write songs, and harness the power of song to engage students through with our developmental method and inclusive teaching approach. No prior musical experience is required. Originally developed for young children, our approach helps educators and specialists of all kinds, and their students of all ages and abilities, to find their voices, and learn to play and write their own songs for learning and self-expression.
We welcome shower singers, and total beginners to our classes and workshops. 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 make, lead, and share music as a part of teaching. 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 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 AIM
We are working toward a 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
|
|
|
|
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 Andy McKee Explore & Shop Here |
|
|
|
|
|
|
+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.
|
|
|
I'm An Educator
I want to bring music to my district, school, classroom, or special learning environment!
|
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.
|
I'm a Parent/Guardian
I want my children to learn to make music at school or online.
How do I get started? |
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.
|
|
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
|
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] |
|