Education United States Project #49286

Fund Musical Resilience for At-Risk Youth!

by Guitars in the Classroom

Project Report | Jul 29, 2026
A Summer of Strummers

By Jessica Baron | Executive Director

A Summer of Strumming

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your support of our campaign for At-Risk Youth during the past school year. The students are still on summer break, our Strummers Clubs for teens on high school campuses will be back in action shortly.

Meanwhile, we've been getting 500 younger kids started on ukuleles and guitars at no cost to families through our summer PrimeTime Enrichment programs in the San Diego Unified School District. By the time these students reach high school, they may even be able to coach their peers in the after-school programs that you support!

Thank you for staying with Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom while we gear up for another exciting year of musical learning with a little help from our friends, You! Thank you so much for recognizing the power of providing a musical focus for youth as a source of support, focus, friendship, and direction.

We'll be back in touch before you know it with the first report of the new school year! Until then, may your last weeks of summer be filled with the beauty of nature, and the joy of friendship and relaxation,

Jess

Links:

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Mar 30, 2026
Teaching Youth About Jobs Related to Guitar

By Jessica Baron | Executive Director

GITC's Youth Workforce Development Panelists

Dear Supporter,

This quick report shares some exciting news. After three years of running the guitar clubs for at-risk youth, it is clear that many of the students we support through this work need help envisioning their future careers. Just one in four will attend a four-year college. The rest want to find jobs and hopefully take courses at their local community colleges. But what can an 18 year old find in the way of a good job these days? If you said to yourself, "I have no idea," this is where a lot of the youth are landing. Fast food positions help buy groceries and bus fare. But that is not a long term plan. Unless they go into a family trade, the path forward is rough.

GITC has started to address the need of youth at risk for workforce development. On April 7 and 8th, our students will take a deep tour of guitar manufacturing at the Taylor Guitar factory in El Cajon, CA. We'll have photos and a report to share afterwards! Taylor Guitars hires locally and we hope the tour opens students eyes. In addition, we are beginning to teach them guitar care and maintenance. Those skills can lead to real work in music stores preparing or repairing guitars!

Please enjoy the panel I led at the recent NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. NAMM is the National Association of Music Merchants trade organization. The show is private and brings together manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of musical products from around the world, along with music educators and music nonprofits. Great things happen at every show. https://youtu.be/_L2ePvhiQuw

We pulled together this panel of experts to open pathways and doors to career possibilities related to music and guitar- beyond performance. We believe that trades jobs are a great way for students to do meaningful work in music without having to be a "rock star." Honestly, the world needs more makers, designers, communicators, recording engineers, road techs, tour managers, production, lighting and sound techs, organizers, promoters, agents, managers, content writers, and for all that incredible gear, metal workers, string makers, wood procerers, wind and brass repairers. and at every plant, shipping experts. This doesn't even begin to touch music education or recreational music instruction as additional career pathways. The possibilities have barely been explore. For every 1 rock star, there are probably 40 different professionals who make their careers and daily work possible. Who will fill these roles in the future?

In this video, you'll hear from Arin C. who runs the GRAMMY Foundation's education programs, famed luthier William E. who runs the Robert-Venn School of Lutherie, and 3 brilliant experts in high school work force development for music.

Thank you for continuing to support this project. You gave us roots. Please keep donating to help us sprout wings!

With so much appreciation for your charity,

Jess

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Nov 27, 2025
Introducing Career Pathways in GITC Guitar Clubs!

By Jess Baron | Executive Director

Students from Hoover High with their new Mitchells

Dear Friend of our GITC Guitar Clubs for At-Risk-Youth,

Thank you for the immense generosity you are showing for students who are participating in our after school clubs. We're already planning to award graduating Guitar Club students with guitars next month. We truly cannot not make this happen without you! You are absolutely helping us move the needle on learning- and building hope for students' futures with this project!

As a result of your investment in this program, these Strummers Clubs in high-needs high schools are succeeding, expanding to new sites, and we are adding cool new services in 2026 to help students not only dream big, but learn how to work towards realizing their dreams.

This fall, we have guitar clubs going in 8 schools, and we're planning to expand again in 2026. In addition to programs at John Hope, Lincoln, Hoover, Morse, Madison, and San Diego High School, we're running guitar programs for students receving mental health support at the Merit Academy in El Cajon, and for unhoused students at the Monarch School in Barrio Logan. We'll also be going back to Maclay Middle School in Los Angeles Unified in January. The future looks bright with possibilities!

I hope you will share my excitement about our workforce development offerings for teens in San Diego, new this school year. We will be introducing them to possible careers related to guitar, but not necessarily as artists. There are so many wonderful careers in music that involve guitar but do not require becoming a virtuoso.

In January and February, Strummers will have a chance to learn hands-on how to change their own strings and clean their instruments, taught by professional luthiers. We are also preparing a master class for them with fingerstyle artist Muriel Anderson in March. They'll get to ask her questions about how to build an independent touring career, and they'll discover the magic of haro guitar! Then in April, all of the students in the San Diego clubs will be touring the Taylor Guitar factory to learn how guitars are designed and built, and how to apply for a job with Taylor after they graduate. We're also hoping to get them an in-person Q&A visit with a professional guitar tech out on tour with an arena level rock band before school ends. We'll also be giving them a list of music stores where they can apply for summer jobs.

We also just heard today that our home school district is interested in giving some of our Guitar Club students paid internships next summer helping younger students learn to play. That would be such a winning partnership, and we will let you know if it moves forward.

One last thing— this Giving Tuesday, December 2nd, I hope you will find it in your heart to contribute again and to share about your giving with a friend. Thank you for being that special someone who is making sure kids get a shot. Life can be rough, but your kindness is giving these students a reason to feel cared about, to do their best, and to keep the faith.

We believe in you, just as you believe in them! Thank you for the privilege of working for good with your support.

Wishing you a bountiful, peaceful, and joyful Thanksgiving,

Jess

Student Enjoying His New Instrument!

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