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A Holiday Message from Jess
 Please join me in celebrating the eleventh holiday season of Guitars in the Classroom by sharing a simple understanding that defines the heart of our work. It's a thought for having fun this month and starting the new year fresh. With your holiday celebrations coming up, there might just be an opportunity for you to sing.
Each and every one of us is capable of loving and making music, if only we get the chance. And if only we'll take that chance. If doing so requires an act of faith, perhaps because someone was once critical of your voice, GITC hopes this will be your year to release yourself from negativity, and sing out. If you are enjoying yourself, this is what matters most!
This December and into 2011, you can exercise your musical freedom! Share your heart in song- just like you share your smile, your hug, your random acts of kindness
Now, If you already feel comfortable singing and sharing music, you know what a blessing this is. Let's encourage those who seem shy to join in the singing this holiday season. The more the merrier!
Finally, please join me in sharing music with the children in our lives. Let's sing together and pass along the songs we love. Young people need us to lead this experience, and songs must be sung to be cherished, remembered, and kept alive. If we remember to sing and help children sing with us, we can preserve musical culture and family traditions.
You can make saving the music a personal act simply by being the first person to pick up a guitar and sing a song.
In 1998, this simple sharing was what brough Guitars in the Classroom to life. I was asked by many classroom teachers to lead the singing and to teach them to play simple guitar. They wanted to learn even though some were afraid they might fail. But this dream of theirs to experience the pleasure of strumming a guitar and feeling the freedom and confidence to sing was so great!
Together we discovered how they learned best. Through music, they began bravely showing students their creativity and courage to express themselves. And this inspired students to be bravely creative, too. What started in a small town in California has been resonating through cities and towns across this country for over a decade. Now we have a faculty of 60 trainers with programs as far flung as Hawaii and Vermont- and GITC is even happening in Kabul, Afghanistan.
GITC and I have YOU to thank for this amazing movement to bring music to education! Because you and others care, teachers are getting the training and access to musical instruments they need to save the music. Your support is making all the difference.
Thank you for contributing your time, ideas, resources, skills, and talents. Your charity and ingenuity are getting free daily music making to over half a million students this year! You've helped with everything from artwork to Internet uploads, from writing and outreach, to meeting and greeting people at GITC events, from working at fundraisers to sending us funding, from donating everything from picks, strings, capos, and guitar straps to guitars, gig bags, music stands, and recordings. This program is yours, and on behalf of the 9,000 teachers we'll have reached by the end of this school year, thank you so very much for making school a happier place where many lucky children touched by GITC are learning through music.
Wishing you the most joyful, celebratory and musical holiday in memory!
Your grateful friend,
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Thank you sooo much to each and every Guitars in the Classroom Trainer, Program Coordinator, Regional Director, Classroom Teacher, and to all the students who strum and sing with us throughout the year! Let's make 2011 a year-long musical celebration!
Special Thanks to Guitars in the Classroom's Board Members
Billy Stern
Peter D'Addario
Dan Smith
John Hawkins
Alisa Peres
And to our new Friends and Supporters
Amber Bechtol
Ann Sui
Anne Windon
Art 'N Soul on 101
Art Smart Consulting
Barbara Gazzolo
Ben Hassenger
Bill Mills
Billy and Judy Cottle
Bob and Patricia Atkins
Bookmans Entertainment
Bryant Neal
Candi Fielder
Carol Brady
Christina Glover
Dara Lum
Dean Seabrook
Debby and Lester Rosen
Deborah Fernelius
Deborah N. Rosen
Diane Lincoln
Diane Stevenson
Dick Boak
Donna diSalvo
Elizabeth Maddalena
Florence Hoffman
Gabriela Lopez
Genie Calagna
Guitar Center Charitable Giving Committee
Hawaiian Airlines
James Akin
Janet and Chuck Stern
Janis Ost
John & Joan D'Addario Foundation
John and Joan D'Addario
John Kiehl
Jordan and Jean Nerenberg
Judith Heffron
Judy Roberts (advocating for us in Boston)
Julie Felix
Kate Hammett
Katia Barrett
Kelly Friemel
KMC Music
Laura Burgee
Leigh Ferek-Hite
Leo Krupp
Leonard Model
Liane and Jim Preston
Linda Adrian
Linda Barry
Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation
Mary Rotzin-Gilchrest
Matt Lane
Melvin and Lee Blum
Mitch Chang and Kalakoa Productions
Mohala Hou Foundation
Music For Life Alliance
Pam Urig
Patrick Dugan
Paul Cothran
Paul Damiano
Paul Frazier
Pauline Welburn
PC Recycle, LLC.
Penny Collins
Phyllis and Marvin Goldblatt
Ranjini Rusch
Rebecca Gonzales
Ric Schnupp (he discounted his rate)
Richard Cortesi
Rick and Lorrin Boyer
Rincon San Luiseno Band of Mission Indians
Rochelle and Irving Distelheim
Rod MacDonald
S.H. Pierce
Sharon Oriel
Shevlin and Diane Ciral
Sobrato Family Foundation
Soundtrack Studio
Stacy Matseas
Sunee Claud
Susan Decamillis
The Frame House
The Johnson Ohana Foundation
The NAMM Foundation
The Paul Nadler Family Trust
Thom Wolke (think drumhead)
Tom Lunneberg
Uncle George Kahumoku
Winifred Simpson
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How YOU Can Help
Want to help GITC this holiday season? Below, we've listed some of our program initiatives - click on any of the images below to learn more, or use the "Make a Donation" button to contribute directly.
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The AMIGO Project
How Your Gift Helps:
Nothing helps English Language Learners (ELLs) faster than singing... READ MORE
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Early Childhood Education
How Your Gift Helps:
Young children learn almost everything basic through songs, but few of their teachers can accompany the singing with guitar... READ MORE
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Inner City & Urban Schools
How Your Gift Helps:
About 78% of teachers who train with GITC are working in schools dubbed "Title I" meaning that more than half of the students qualify for free lunches and are considered "underserved" and "at risk" ... READ MORE
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First Nations
How Your Gift Helps:
Our 1st Nations Pilot Program brings together teachers from two different kinds of schools- traditional tribal schools and governmental schools (BIA)... READ MORE
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MIRSE Development
(Music Integration for Resource and Special Educators)
How Your Gift Helps:
Students in Special Education and Resource programs often miss out on music. Yet music is an area where many can benefit and excel... READ MORE
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Gulf Coast Programs
How Your Gift Helps:
In an area affected by a large-scale disaster, music is a source of hope and healing for the people living there... READ MORE
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