This project gives teens in economically & culturally marginalized communities the chance to learn to make music and play guitar in a restorative after school program with their peers. Taught by dedicated GITC guitar instructors, these clubs doubled in number and size in 2023. Each serious student receives a beautiful new guitar to keep. Though districts fund extended learning, they can't purchase guitars. Your donation to GITC gives each worthy teen access, opportunity, care & a musical future!
Many students in high-poverty middle and high schools are coping with immense stressors, daily challenges above and beyond normal academic and social pressures. Years of struggling with limited resources, food insecurity, substandard or insecure housing, family stress, and a financially limited set of choices after graduation is discouraging. Students benefit from this welcoming, responsive afterschool music program where they gain skills, their own guitar, and newfound creativty, and friends!
By providing restorative, accessible guitar clubs that instill hope, and foster positive connections between kids fighting an uphill battle, this project improves their chances for success. The free instruction, guitars and supplies remove financial barriers to participation. Making music together reduces their stress, and motivates students to truly apply themselves to something that fills their cups with joy as they acquire artistic abilities to share with friends, and teach to others.
Actively participating in making music has been found to lower anxiety, regulate breathing and heart rates, build cross-brain connections, boost executive brain function, strengthen speech processing, improve memory, and even promote empathy. It also gives students who have trouble expressing their feelings a different way to get feels out- through the instrument, or through singing songs with personal mearning. This all adds up students feeling healthier, calmer, more focused, and resilient!
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