Infuse U.S. Classrooms with Music for Learning!

Dear Friends,

Thank you for empowering us to pour our collective determination, inspiration, musical instruction and instruments into the lives of students and teachers, giving them a chance to improve their quality of life and learning everyday, and bringing them hope and a sense of joy. 

Because of your support, we are excited to report that we were able to bring a second summer of learning and fun through GITC’s intimate Summer Strummers Clubs at 12 different in-person school sites throughout the city of San Diego, as well as online for medically fragile students.  We were able to serve about 411 children total. These clubs lead to so much resilience, laughter, and fabulous student creativity! Parents sent us glowing reports through our post-program surveys. Here are two of many comments we received: The parent of a five year old said, “I have noticed a lot more interest in music in my child since starting the Strummers Club. I hear him humming the songs he’s learned in class throughout his day.”  And the parent of an eight year old commented, “Her interest has increased in music, in general.  It has helped with her everyday school work as well.”

This fall, thanks to you, we will be providing new online professional development trainings for teachers and support staff in general education and special education classrooms, for homebound, medically fragile students, and for students who have been removed from an unsafe home environment and need transitional support. These include Total Beginner courses in Spanish, using Spanish songs, and some exciting new implementation courses includingPersonalized Songwriting for Experienced Classroom Songwriters, and Nurturing Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom with Music.  We are planning additional teaching artist residencies in San Diego and Los Angeles, and continuing to expand our program for medically fragile students. We are only able to do this with your ongoing generosity. If you’re excited about helping hundreds of students gain access to free musical learning, please stay with us to support an exciting launch to the new school year.

Thank you for encouraging us to keep going.  With your support, we are going to turn our attention to opening up more musical classrooms in remote and rural school districts where learning to make music with GITC can broaden children’s horizons, building skills, curiosity, and creativity that may open doors to college-level study and professional work in music after high school graduation. We will also continue working in economically disadvantaged urban schools, delivering hope, responsive instruction, and free musical instruments to students living below the poverty line.

We deeply appreciate your ongoing generosity! Let’s team up to make a huge impact for kids and teachers this Fall. Thank you for your blessings, and for your commitment to doing good in the world with us.

 With deepest appreciation,

Jess and Gail