NEWSFLASH ~
Extended Winter 2021 Registration ended on January 11th.
Only the new Tuesday section of AMAISE for Beginners is still open for teachers,
paras and specialists working in special education or inclusion classrooms.
To enroll in that course, please click HERE.
If you have questions, please feel free to email our staff at info@guitarsintheclassroom.org
EACH PARTICIPANT MAY ONLY ENROLL IN ONE COURSE PER QUARTER
With these exceptions:
Extended Winter 2021 Registration ended on January 11th.
Only the new Tuesday section of AMAISE for Beginners is still open for teachers,
paras and specialists working in special education or inclusion classrooms.
To enroll in that course, please click HERE.
If you have questions, please feel free to email our staff at info@guitarsintheclassroom.org
EACH PARTICIPANT MAY ONLY ENROLL IN ONE COURSE PER QUARTER
With these exceptions:
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Courses last 6 weeks
and meet just once a week. They begin the week of Jan. 25, 2021 and conclude the week of March 13, 2021. They will meet ONLINE weekdays after school from 4-5 pm & on Saturdays from 10-11 am Pacific |
1) Anyone working with students with exceptionalities MAY enroll in the correct level of AMAISE course (Adaptive Music for Achievement in Inclusion & Special Ed) in addition to registering for an instrumental course. Uke + AMAISE or Guitar + AMAISE is OKAY.
2) Anyone who meets the musical prerequisites may enroll in both a higher level GITC instrumental course AND Songwriting in Standard. |
Please read these descriptions below to
CHOOSE THE RIGHT CLASS FOR YOU!
If the one you want is already full, please sign up for the waitlist.
We can usually admit 4-6 people from waitlists each term.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT CLASS FOR YOU!
If the one you want is already full, please sign up for the waitlist.
We can usually admit 4-6 people from waitlists each term.
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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN
TEACHING THROUGH THE POWER OF SONG WITH UKULELES? Simply watch this video to find out which course is the best for you, and read the descriptions below. Then you'll be ready to register! |
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TOTAL BEGINNER : UKULELE
Course Prerequisite - None
This class is for teachers and specialists with little to no musical experience. Learn music basics for singing, strumming rhythms, accompanying songs on ukulele and leading hands-on singing, songwriting and strumming with your students. We go slowly to help you develop essential musical awareness and skills, and you'll get to sing, strum and play easy songs for learning with two or three chords in our special Open Tuning on ukulele.
BEGINNER REFRESH: UKULELE
Course Prerequisite: Total Beginner or Beginner
This course is for those of you who already took a Beginner level GITC course with ukulele and feel you want more time working with foundational strumming, coordination and singing/playing at the same time before joining the Experienced Beginner course. Whether you took a course a few years ago and are just returning, or you simply want practice and review, please choose this course!
EXPERIENCED BEGINNER: UKULELE
Course Prerequisite: Total Beginner or Beginner
To enroll in Experienced Beginner, be able to tune the ukulele, play at least 3 chords in Open C Tuning, strum simple rhythm patterns, and be ready to try your hand at leading children to strum and sing. If you can play an easy 3 chord song on your own, this course will help you get faster with your changes, teach you a few more chords, and help you become more confident in your song leadership. It also prepares you to be able to add playing the guitar to your musical skills if you like and qualifies you to take Strum Into Standard for Uke next time!
Course Prerequisite - None
This class is for teachers and specialists with little to no musical experience. Learn music basics for singing, strumming rhythms, accompanying songs on ukulele and leading hands-on singing, songwriting and strumming with your students. We go slowly to help you develop essential musical awareness and skills, and you'll get to sing, strum and play easy songs for learning with two or three chords in our special Open Tuning on ukulele.
BEGINNER REFRESH: UKULELE
Course Prerequisite: Total Beginner or Beginner
This course is for those of you who already took a Beginner level GITC course with ukulele and feel you want more time working with foundational strumming, coordination and singing/playing at the same time before joining the Experienced Beginner course. Whether you took a course a few years ago and are just returning, or you simply want practice and review, please choose this course!
EXPERIENCED BEGINNER: UKULELE
Course Prerequisite: Total Beginner or Beginner
To enroll in Experienced Beginner, be able to tune the ukulele, play at least 3 chords in Open C Tuning, strum simple rhythm patterns, and be ready to try your hand at leading children to strum and sing. If you can play an easy 3 chord song on your own, this course will help you get faster with your changes, teach you a few more chords, and help you become more confident in your song leadership. It also prepares you to be able to add playing the guitar to your musical skills if you like and qualifies you to take Strum Into Standard for Uke next time!
STRUM INTO STANDARD: UKULELE
Course Prerequisite: Experienced Beginner
Strum Into Standard is exciting! By retuning the 1st G string, you will learn a new way to play your familiar chords after Experienced Beginner. You will play the chord forms you learned earlier in a fuller form, and also begin to play in a new key! You’ll learn how to invent your own strumming patterns, too. This course will open your ears to composing songs music-first and lyrics-first while exploring musical dynamics to express a fuller range of emotions and melodic possibilities.
Course Prerequisite: Experienced Beginner
Strum Into Standard is exciting! By retuning the 1st G string, you will learn a new way to play your familiar chords after Experienced Beginner. You will play the chord forms you learned earlier in a fuller form, and also begin to play in a new key! You’ll learn how to invent your own strumming patterns, too. This course will open your ears to composing songs music-first and lyrics-first while exploring musical dynamics to express a fuller range of emotions and melodic possibilities.
READY TO SIGN UP? CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR A CLASS!
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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN
TEACHING THROUGH THE POWER OF SONG WITH GUITAR? Please watch this video to find out which course is the best for you, and read the descriptions below. Then you'll be ready to register! |
JUST ADD GUITAR - I
Course Prerequisite: Experienced Beginner
Double your fun by applying all you’ve learned on uke to playing guitar in your classroom and in your life! The larger instrument gives you more strings and lovely bass notes to work with, plus more volume for song-leading groups of students and a bigger instrument to hug. Your students who already play a little guitar will love having one to share at school each day. This beginning guitar course teaches you to transfer what you already learned how to do on a ukulele to the 6-string acoustic guitar. We make it easy in Open G tuning. If you have already mastered C, F and G7 on ukulele, you are ready to Just Add Guitar!
Already play guitar in standard tuning? Our Open G SmartStart Guitar method supports children to learn to play the instrument quickly to accompany songs without pain or struggle. After learning in Open G, anyone can successfully transition to Standard Tuning.
STRUM INTO STANDARD: GUITAR
Course Prerequisite: Just Add Guitar I or II
Strum Into Standard is exciting! By retuning strings 6, 5 and 1, you will learn a new way to play chords with more choices and musical voicings. You will play the chord forms you learned before as a starting point, adding fingers to make a more harminically diverse sound. You will also begin to be able play song in new keys!This course will open your ears to composing songs music-first and lyrics-first while exploring musical dynamics to express a fuller range of emotions and melodic possibilities.
JUST ADD GUITAR - II
Course Prerequisite: Just Add Guitar - I
This course is a continuation of JUST ADD GUITAR in Open G Tuning. Most teachers prefer to play in Open G for several months before transitioning to the more complex chords of Standard Tuning. You will get more practice with G, C and D7 chords, integrate Em, G7, and more strumming patterns. Gaining comfort and confidence on guitar in Open G, and learning to raise and lower your singing key using a capo will make it easy to Transition Into Standard next time around!
Course Prerequisite: Experienced Beginner
Double your fun by applying all you’ve learned on uke to playing guitar in your classroom and in your life! The larger instrument gives you more strings and lovely bass notes to work with, plus more volume for song-leading groups of students and a bigger instrument to hug. Your students who already play a little guitar will love having one to share at school each day. This beginning guitar course teaches you to transfer what you already learned how to do on a ukulele to the 6-string acoustic guitar. We make it easy in Open G tuning. If you have already mastered C, F and G7 on ukulele, you are ready to Just Add Guitar!
Already play guitar in standard tuning? Our Open G SmartStart Guitar method supports children to learn to play the instrument quickly to accompany songs without pain or struggle. After learning in Open G, anyone can successfully transition to Standard Tuning.
STRUM INTO STANDARD: GUITAR
Course Prerequisite: Just Add Guitar I or II
Strum Into Standard is exciting! By retuning strings 6, 5 and 1, you will learn a new way to play chords with more choices and musical voicings. You will play the chord forms you learned before as a starting point, adding fingers to make a more harminically diverse sound. You will also begin to be able play song in new keys!This course will open your ears to composing songs music-first and lyrics-first while exploring musical dynamics to express a fuller range of emotions and melodic possibilities.
JUST ADD GUITAR - II
Course Prerequisite: Just Add Guitar - I
This course is a continuation of JUST ADD GUITAR in Open G Tuning. Most teachers prefer to play in Open G for several months before transitioning to the more complex chords of Standard Tuning. You will get more practice with G, C and D7 chords, integrate Em, G7, and more strumming patterns. Gaining comfort and confidence on guitar in Open G, and learning to raise and lower your singing key using a capo will make it easy to Transition Into Standard next time around!
READY TO SIGN UP? PLEASE REGISTER HERE!
STRUM AS YOU ARE!
These courses welcome you to play ukulele, guitar or both!
EXPERIENCED STRUMMER : UKE &/OR GUITAR
Course Prerequisite: Strum into Standard or
the Ability to Play Simply in Standard Tuning
Experienced Strummer is for teachers who are already comfortable playing ukulele or guitar in at least one key in Standard Tuning. You will learn the Nashville Chord System that lets you go back and forth between guitar and ukulele using chord numbers instead of letter names. We accomplish this with a new way to name chords so they work interchangeably. You will acquire 3 new chords in Standard Tuning on one or both instruments, and have fun playing different musical styles with rhythmic strums. You’ll compose original music and acquire more song leadership, musical arranging and songwriting skills. Your confidence teaching and leading songs (singing solo) in your classroom will achieve new heights as you explore more nuanced and strategic ways to lead music for learning
NEW COURSE FOR EXPERIENCED STRUMMERS AND ABOVE:
SONGWRITING IN STANDARD WITH DR. JOAN MAUTE
Course Prerequisite: Strum into Standard for Uke or Guitar, or Experienced Strummer
Songwriting can help your students learn to tell or retell a story, learn a concept in detail, and have creative fun with wordplay. This class is designed for GITC classroom teachers who have already learned to play many chords in Standard Tuning. The reason we require this is because emphasis will be placed on creating beautiful music that matches the mood and message of original lyrics. This class goes beyond copy change or zipper writing. So if you can play 7 or more chords in standard tuning, please keep reading. This special learning opportunity might be a good fit for you!
The course will start with writing new lyrics to existing songs then move on to writing unique melodies and lyrics. We’ll look at song structure, verse, chorus, and bridge as well as appropriate rhythm, strumming or picking and chord progression to enhance the lyrics. You will be writing at least one song each week which will include two or more verses and a chorus, refrain, and/or bridge. It may be possible to begin writing educational songs and progress to writing songs for the soul - stories that need to be told. We’ll learn together and from each other as songs are shared each week.
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WANT TO LEAD MUSIC INCLUSIVELY
FOR ALL LEARNERS? AMAISE stands for Adapative Music for Achievement in Inclusionand Special Education. Train with GITC to make musical participation possible for every student! During the pandemic we are teaching AMAISE online and when it is safely behind us, we will resume our AMAISE-ing Conferences! |
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AMAISE BEGINNER (AMAISE I)
Course Prerequisite: None Learn the basics of adapting music making so all students including those with different kinds and levels of support needs can fully participate! AMAISE empowers you to help your students feel the joy and receive the benefits of learning through the power of music and songs! Music opens new pathways to learning for students for students developing emerging language and motor skills. This course may include training in percussion, ukulele or guitar, Beamz, Jamstik or AirJamz! We focus on Songwriting for SEL (Social Emotional Learning), essential speaking and listening skills, kinesthetic activities, differentiating instruction for medical needs including use of special adaptations for ukulele, guitar, rhythm instruments and more! |
AMAISE-ing CLASSROOM COACHING (AMAISE II)
Course Prerequisite: AMAISE Beginner This workshop-style course is open to any GITC teacher or staff participant who has completed foundational training in AMAISE either online, in person or at an AMAISE Conference. Teachers and support staff in this course must already be implementing music for inclusion or intervention and/or building classroom community with SEL skills. Each week, individuals will be asked to share a particular challenge, opportunity, musical strategy, experiment or success. We will learn together and help one another create specialized interventions and leadership strategies for our students and our classrooms as a whole. |
CEUs are available through UCSD Extension. Your instructor will fill you in.
GITC provides a free ukulele to all beginners in our programs.
If you are NEW to GITC and are not a beginner,
please let us know your instrument need by emailing us!
We also LOAN a guitar to teachers who would like to borrow one.
We ask that participants cover the cost of shipping these instruments.
You may borrow a guitar for as long as you need it and are actively using it.
If you wish to purchase your own guitar or ukulele to play,
we recommend calling your local music store to see what they have for sale.
GITC teachers are also treated to subsidized prices on instruments
purchased directly from participating GITC sponsor companies.
Please ask your instructor about this option.
We can attest to the quality of Kala Brand ukuleles,
Korg's Tanglewood ukuleles and Cordoba Ukuleles!
We also recommend Martin and Godin guitars for steel string guitars.
If no local music store exists in your area,
we recommend shopping at
a reputable online music store such as
Musician's Friend or Sam Ash Music Stores!
Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom shares our "SmartStart" Open Tuning approach through books that are available for sale to the general public. SmartStart Guitar is available from Hal Leonard Publishing. Smartstart Ukulele is available from Korg/Soundtree.
However, our GITC programs encompass much more than an instrumental approach to beginning guitar and ukulele.
Only certificated GITC faculty members teach music integration that includes employing music making and song-based learning to enrich and deepen literacy and math learning, social-emotional growth, cross-curricular connections, and more. If you are looking for an official GITC program, it will be listed at this website or it will be known to us. It must be taught by one of our trained and certified faculty members. Anyone else saying that they are teaching Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom may be using some version of our instrumental approach to teach music in some way. They are not providing endorsed or official GITC training. For example, Special Olympics uses our method in Arizona and Texas, and they are calling it Unified Ukulele. This is not a GITC-endorsed program and we cannot endorse their work since we are not involved- but we are glad they are sharing music with Special Olympians.
If you want to check on someone's standing with our organization or alert us to possible copycat programs, we ask that you please REACH OUT HERE. Thanks so much for the help keeping our charitable work safe and ensuring the quality of GITC instruction!
However, our GITC programs encompass much more than an instrumental approach to beginning guitar and ukulele.
Only certificated GITC faculty members teach music integration that includes employing music making and song-based learning to enrich and deepen literacy and math learning, social-emotional growth, cross-curricular connections, and more. If you are looking for an official GITC program, it will be listed at this website or it will be known to us. It must be taught by one of our trained and certified faculty members. Anyone else saying that they are teaching Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom may be using some version of our instrumental approach to teach music in some way. They are not providing endorsed or official GITC training. For example, Special Olympics uses our method in Arizona and Texas, and they are calling it Unified Ukulele. This is not a GITC-endorsed program and we cannot endorse their work since we are not involved- but we are glad they are sharing music with Special Olympians.
If you want to check on someone's standing with our organization or alert us to possible copycat programs, we ask that you please REACH OUT HERE. Thanks so much for the help keeping our charitable work safe and ensuring the quality of GITC instruction!