This is a great interview on KOGO 600 Radio first aired on December 21, 2024
Jess Baron had a great conversation with Cliff Albert on Newsradio 600 KOGO. It is over 5 minutes long, what a blessing it was to talk about our GITC organization, programs and the impact we have on teachers, parents and students.
This very long and wonderful KUSI segment first aired November 8, 2024.
Two-Time Grammy award winner Laurence Juber (LJ) shares his music, story, and musical achievements! LJ helped us start what became GITC over 25 years ago! Fun fact, LJ has recorded with 3 of 4 Beatles over the years.
This San Diego Union-Tribune article tells our founder, Jess Baron's, story and her non-profit work. Definitely worth the read to gain some wonderful insight into her and our organization.
Click HERE to read the online version if you are not able to read this.
Click HERE to read the online version if you are not able to read this.
This awesome KUSI segment first aired September 2, 2024.
This is about our free fall course registration, but as you will see it was so much more. Our founder Jess Baron, showed anchor Lauren Phinney how to play the ukulele using GITC's program. It was a joy to share the tiny ukulele lesson with Lauren and for everyone to see in real time. Lauren rocked "Mary Had a Little Lamb!" Next thing we know, it's gonna be
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow!"
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow!"
Hage Elementary was highlighted on this Fox 5 San Diego segment which first aired April 16, 2024.
Heather Lake of Fox 5 San Diego went to William B. Hage Elementary School to discuss our program and how it is helping the students as well as how people can help support our cause. It was wonderful, as Heather spoke to our Founder, Executive Director Jess Baron, Ms. Pennera-Rollins 3rd Grade Teacher, as well as one of the children.
This wonderful Univision Despierta San Diego segment first aired March 15, 2024.
Teaching in Spanish matters to our organization because it reaches such a vital and important part of our community here in California! Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom (GITC) teaching artist Consuela Goodman and our founder Jess Baron had the pleasure of sharing about GITC's free Early Childhood Education Music Leadership workshops with the delightful anchor team at Univision!
¡La enseñanza en español es importante para nuestra organización porque llega a una parte tan vital e importante de nuestra comunidad aquí en California! ¡La artista docente de Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom (GITC), Consuela Goodman, y nuestro fundador Jess Baron tuvieron el placer de compartir sobre los talleres gratuitos de Liderazgo musical en educación infantil de GITC con el encantador equipo presentador de Univision!
¡La enseñanza en español es importante para nuestra organización porque llega a una parte tan vital e importante de nuestra comunidad aquí en California! ¡La artista docente de Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom (GITC), Consuela Goodman, y nuestro fundador Jess Baron tuvieron el placer de compartir sobre los talleres gratuitos de Liderazgo musical en educación infantil de GITC con el encantador equipo presentador de Univision!
Our Founder, Executive Director Jess Baron was on KUSI Good Morning San Diego which first aired February 10, 2024.
Allie Wagner interviewed her about our expanding in-person workshops for early childhood educators, and GITC's inclusive approach to teaching through music from preschool through high school. We are very grateful for the chance to share our work.
Our Founder, Executive Director Jess Baron was on The San Diego Union-Tribune's TogetherSD Podcast which first aired January 24, 2024.
Paola Hernandez discusses GITC programs in San Diego schools, and in early childhood education, county-wide. Curious why music makes a crucial difference for children? Take a listen.
This video from Jeff Zevely and the Zevely Zone first aired on CBS8 and CW television on November 30, 2023.
Jeff visited Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom at Freese Elementary in Southeast San Diego.
This was picked up in Pennsylvania and as far as Connecticut!
See our work in action with kindergarteners and their teacher, Ms. Desirée Robles!
This was picked up in Pennsylvania and as far as Connecticut!
See our work in action with kindergarteners and their teacher, Ms. Desirée Robles!
This heartfelt and inspiring video podcast interview first aired on November 9, 2023.
Dr. James and Dr. Michelle Cooley interview GITC Founder, Jess Baron and share their insights, curiosity, and enthusiasm!
This beautiful conversation shines light on the power of music to inspire, motivate, teach, and heal
as Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom brings free music programs with songs for learning
to students and teachers everywhere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceTs4IWk8Eg&t=13s
This beautiful conversation shines light on the power of music to inspire, motivate, teach, and heal
as Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom brings free music programs with songs for learning
to students and teachers everywhere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceTs4IWk8Eg&t=13s
August 2021
We hope you'll enjoy and share this recent broad-ranging coversation about guitar education and GITC between podcast host Karl Wohlwend and GITC's founder and executive director, Jess Baron. Find it online here: https://columbusclassicalguitar.com/guitaromanie/
We hope you'll enjoy and share this recent broad-ranging coversation about guitar education and GITC between podcast host Karl Wohlwend and GITC's founder and executive director, Jess Baron. Find it online here: https://columbusclassicalguitar.com/guitaromanie/
July, 2021
CLICK HERE to enjoy this recent article in Ukulele Magazine' FALL issue. about GITC's diverse programs in elementary schools, published on July 22 in Ukulele Magazine!
Scripps Media created a special feature about Guitars and Ukes in the Classrooms and to ran on July 21, 2021. Their networks then sent that story out around the country! Here it is for you.
Thank you very much to journalist Amanda Brandeis for taking a personal interest in our work restoring hands-on music to childhood and elementary education over the summer through our first programs for students! Click to watch the in-depth feature that takes you inside a GITC Summer Strummers Club and also highlights the dedication of our Tuning Archangel volunteer, Rodney Howard!
https://www.10news.com/rebound/state-of-education/summer-program-tuning-students-social-emotional-health
Thanks to the News Team at KUSI
for preserving this special moment in GITC history
as we launch our first summer programs for students!
Level Up San Diego
was made possible
with support from the
San Diego Unified School District
and the
San Diego Foundation
We had a great time hosting
San Diego Unified's Master of Media (not his actual job title),
Mike Makie at our
Summer Strummer Clubs
at LMEC a.k.a.
Logan Memorial Education Campus
and at
Nye Elementary
in July, 2021!
Summer program 'tuning' student's social-emotional health....
Channel 7, San Diego
January 29, 2020
Music Education Nonprofit Provides Instruments for Students Stuck at Home
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/kids-have-ownership-of-their-creativity-nonprofit-gets-grant-to-put-music-in-classrooms/2252695/
Channel 7, San Diego
January 29, 2020
Music Education Nonprofit Provides Instruments for Students Stuck at Home
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/kids-have-ownership-of-their-creativity-nonprofit-gets-grant-to-put-music-in-classrooms/2252695/
Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom is exceptionally grateful to be a recipient of operational support funding from the City of San Diego's
Commission for Arts and Culture www.sandiego.gov/arts-cultured |
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July 1, 2019
Popular hosts AJ and Sara of 98.1 FM's morning show speak with GITC Founder and Executive Director, Jess Baron about GITC's NEA Grant funding local AMASE Conferences!
June 26, 2019
San Diego City Beat featured an interview by music and arts journalist, Seth Combs with GITC Founder and Executive Director, Jess Baron about GITC's work in adaptive music for special education and our first NEA Grant!
Also, here is our mini-blog and photo gallery from the first conference you folks just funded last weekend... A full piece is being written about the work as well.
Popular hosts AJ and Sara of 98.1 FM's morning show speak with GITC Founder and Executive Director, Jess Baron about GITC's NEA Grant funding local AMASE Conferences!
June 26, 2019
San Diego City Beat featured an interview by music and arts journalist, Seth Combs with GITC Founder and Executive Director, Jess Baron about GITC's work in adaptive music for special education and our first NEA Grant!
Also, here is our mini-blog and photo gallery from the first conference you folks just funded last weekend... A full piece is being written about the work as well.
June 22, 2019
San Diego Union Tribune published an interview with GITC Founder and Executive Director in their "Interesting People Around San Diego" feature!
By Lisa Deaderick
photo by K.C. Alfred
Q: Tell us about Guitars in the Classroom.
A: GITC began as my personal endeavor to bring the power of music to children in school by training and empowering their teachers. ... Now, we include ukulele, hands-on student strumming, singing and collaborative songwriting in transitional kindergarten through fifth-grade classrooms. We’ve launched music inclusion for special education teachers and their students with special needs. We also train music education faculty to include folk instruments in music classes. We have trained 14,000 teachers since 2000, in 33 states and parts of Canada. What started as a little pilot program has traveled, as music does, from heart to heart and teacher to teacher. You can keep reading right HERE.
San Diego Union Tribune published an interview with GITC Founder and Executive Director in their "Interesting People Around San Diego" feature!
By Lisa Deaderick
photo by K.C. Alfred
Q: Tell us about Guitars in the Classroom.
A: GITC began as my personal endeavor to bring the power of music to children in school by training and empowering their teachers. ... Now, we include ukulele, hands-on student strumming, singing and collaborative songwriting in transitional kindergarten through fifth-grade classrooms. We’ve launched music inclusion for special education teachers and their students with special needs. We also train music education faculty to include folk instruments in music classes. We have trained 14,000 teachers since 2000, in 33 states and parts of Canada. What started as a little pilot program has traveled, as music does, from heart to heart and teacher to teacher. You can keep reading right HERE.
Berkley Hart to Perform in Solana Beach for GITC on June 1st!
May 6, 2019 San Diego -
Join GITC friends and supporters to hear award-winning duo, Berkley Hart perform live on Saturday, June 1st as part of an evening gathering in support of popular San Diego non-profit Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom (GITC). Doors open at 6:00 p.m., in Solana Beach at the private home of the President of GITC's Board of Directors, Scott Fischel.
The private address will be shared upon event registration.
You can reserve your seat right here!
Teachers, advocates and musicians will be on hand to meet and greet newcomers to learn about this amazing organization that has just been given the highest possible ranking by the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture. Tax deductible donations from the event will support free local musical trainings and instruments for public school educators and their classrooms in San Diego County.
The June 1st gathering and concert will include appetizers, refreshments, a silent auction, and a feel-good performance from San Diego music community veterans, Jeff Berkley and Calman Hart. Admission is possible on a suggested donation basis with a recommended gift of $25 per person, and sliding scale and scholarship tickets are available based on need by contacting the non-profit. Reservations can be made HERE.
About Berkley Hart
For over two decades, Jeff Berkley and Calman Hart have been entertaining audiences with their natural down-home humor and masterfully-crafted songs. Their latest album While the Night Is Still Young won the award for Best Country or Americana Album at the 2019 San Diego Music Awards. Veterans of the San Diego coffeehouse music scene, the duo has made the rounds with artists such as Jewel, Gregory Page, Eve Selis, Steve Poltz, and Jason Mraz. Berkley himself is a seasoned producer, regularly recording many of San Diego’s best and brightest musicians in his North County studio. As avid supporters of the San Diego arts community, Berkley Hart is thrilled to help Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom place instruments into the hands of local teachers and students who need them. For more info: www.berkleyhart.com
About Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom
Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom is a 19-year-old educational non-profit that brings music to the heart of elementary learning in every subject and expands the role of music in public education. We train teachers to lead the way and supply them with leadership, guitars, ukuleles, and resources for bringing learning to life through the power of song. For more info, call GITC at (619) 578-2326 or visit www.guitarsintheclassroom.org.
Join GITC friends and supporters to hear award-winning duo, Berkley Hart perform live on Saturday, June 1st as part of an evening gathering in support of popular San Diego non-profit Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom (GITC). Doors open at 6:00 p.m., in Solana Beach at the private home of the President of GITC's Board of Directors, Scott Fischel.
The private address will be shared upon event registration.
You can reserve your seat right here!
Teachers, advocates and musicians will be on hand to meet and greet newcomers to learn about this amazing organization that has just been given the highest possible ranking by the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture. Tax deductible donations from the event will support free local musical trainings and instruments for public school educators and their classrooms in San Diego County.
The June 1st gathering and concert will include appetizers, refreshments, a silent auction, and a feel-good performance from San Diego music community veterans, Jeff Berkley and Calman Hart. Admission is possible on a suggested donation basis with a recommended gift of $25 per person, and sliding scale and scholarship tickets are available based on need by contacting the non-profit. Reservations can be made HERE.
About Berkley Hart
For over two decades, Jeff Berkley and Calman Hart have been entertaining audiences with their natural down-home humor and masterfully-crafted songs. Their latest album While the Night Is Still Young won the award for Best Country or Americana Album at the 2019 San Diego Music Awards. Veterans of the San Diego coffeehouse music scene, the duo has made the rounds with artists such as Jewel, Gregory Page, Eve Selis, Steve Poltz, and Jason Mraz. Berkley himself is a seasoned producer, regularly recording many of San Diego’s best and brightest musicians in his North County studio. As avid supporters of the San Diego arts community, Berkley Hart is thrilled to help Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom place instruments into the hands of local teachers and students who need them. For more info: www.berkleyhart.com
About Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom
Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom is a 19-year-old educational non-profit that brings music to the heart of elementary learning in every subject and expands the role of music in public education. We train teachers to lead the way and supply them with leadership, guitars, ukuleles, and resources for bringing learning to life through the power of song. For more info, call GITC at (619) 578-2326 or visit www.guitarsintheclassroom.org.
2017 - 2018
Guitars in the Classroom on the radio:
WS RADIO, The WorldWide Leader in Internet Talk: Literacy for All Radio Interview with Jose Cruz, CEO, San Diego Council on Literacy & Jessica Baron, Guitars in the Classroom about innovative ways to address the needs of young students who struggle with reading, do not like read, and who need more exposure to books and print in a way that meets their personal needs and interests. Listen here.
A Kind Voice Radio Interview: November 2018 Jessica Grinspan Interviews GITC Founder, Jess Baron about the history and work of Guitars in the Classroom including our Global Giving projects to Infuse Learning with Music and provide music instruction to Special Learners. You'll also get to hear a sample of GITC in action, featuring this clip of students at Lankershim Elementary performing their original composition retelling Lois Lowry's Number the Stars. Listen here.
WS RADIO, The WorldWide Leader in Internet Talk: Literacy for All Radio Interview with Jose Cruz, CEO, San Diego Council on Literacy & Jessica Baron, Guitars in the Classroom about innovative ways to address the needs of young students who struggle with reading, do not like read, and who need more exposure to books and print in a way that meets their personal needs and interests. Listen here.
A Kind Voice Radio Interview: November 2018 Jessica Grinspan Interviews GITC Founder, Jess Baron about the history and work of Guitars in the Classroom including our Global Giving projects to Infuse Learning with Music and provide music instruction to Special Learners. You'll also get to hear a sample of GITC in action, featuring this clip of students at Lankershim Elementary performing their original composition retelling Lois Lowry's Number the Stars. Listen here.
The Coast News Feature Article: Guitars in the Classroom Engages Special Ed Students by Steve Puterski
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Rob Greenfield’s Original Video: Created by activist, reality television star & author Rob Greenfield, this tribute piece to our non-profit was shared with his large internet following and showcases some GITC statistics, facts, and classrooms in action. Click embedded video to watch now.
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GITC's Jessica Baron, left, sitting with Solana Beach School District Superintendent Terry Decker, right.
Del Mar Times Feature Article: Strumming through the ABCs in Education Matters by senior edication writer Marsha Sutton. The National Association for Music Education annually celebrates March as Music in Schools Month to promote the benefits of high quality music education in schools, like GITC programs.
KUSI San Diego Television with Brad Perry celebrates International Guitar Month April 2017 by spotlighting GITC guitar training.
Korg launches retail bundle for kids (or any aged beginner!) developed with Guitars in the Classroom, including the SmartStart Ukulele: Play by Color instructional book, co-written by Korg's Tiffany Stalker and GITC's own Jessica Baron.
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Sierra Sun Times Feature Article: Students Enjoy Robust Music Program at Sierra Foothill Charter School. Read about GITC in the Yosemite Valley.
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Ukulele Magazine Feature Article: How Ukulele Teachers Are Cultivating a New Generation of Players. GITC’s unique relationship partnering with music education to expand the role of music into general classroom learning is explored as part of this article, written by certified GITC Teaching Artist and talented ukulele performer Heidi Swedberg.
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See music integration in action as GITC teacher Jasmine Green's kindergarten class strums and sings along with our Executive Director, Jessica Baron, to classic song, “Down By the Bay,” for which the class wrote clever new Lyrics for Literacy!
NBC 7's Your Corner Series Highlights Guitars in the Classroom. Anchor Greg Bledsoe visits GITC at Ocean Beach Elementary School to take a close look at the work of GITC and its role making the arts a vibrant part of learning.
2015-2016
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TODAY Show: Jason Mraz Visits Burbank Elementary in Barrio Logan: Guitars in the Classroom was the Arts Provider for the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities. Here, visiting arts ambassador Jason Mraz interacts in GITC classrooms with our students who are learning math and literacy through music.
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MY HERO Music Arts Educator Award given to GITC at the Herb Alpert Educational Village, featuring kindergartners at Foster Elementary in San Diego and 3rd grade at Vista Academy for Performing Arts in Vista, CA. Watch the tribute here.
Cox Communications: 25th Anniversary Salute to Teachers
GITC students in the GITC beginning ukulele chorus were selected by Cox Communications to perform with local singer songwriter and GITC Artist Advocate Cody Lovaas at the Balboa Theater. Their parents were included as honorary guests in the live television audience. See the performance here, televised live on October 10th, 2015. |
Making Music Magazine Feature Article: Guitars in the Classroom: A New Way of Teaching
Learn about the specifics of the GITC approach and how music connects with academic teaching and learning! 
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2012-2014
2006 - 2011
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United Nations 2011-Present
Since 2011 Guitars in the Classroom has be involved the U,N. to address the Millenium Development Goals through their agencies known as the International Council on Caring Communities and Music As a Global Resource. Our work is featured and regularly updated in this global Compendium. |
Edutopia, 2006
Back in the good old days, the year before we even got our own 501(c)3 designation, educators had String Fever for Guitars in the Classroom. |
Kabul, Afghanistan 2007 - 2016
GITC served with the U.S. Military in Afghanistan to train & supply their faculty to teach our approach at the American University in Kabul. 
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