Rock Academy Wales (RAW) has developed a bespoke team-building program using the medium of rock music to engage, motivate and inspire corporate employees. RAW offers to come into a corporation and form bands from members of the organization, mentor them while they learn popular rock songs, then let them loose on an eagerly awaiting audience of colleagues.

RAW is powered by experienced individuals from the Rock Music Industry. Following is an interview with Chris Kelly, the Director of RAW. Visit http://www.rockacademyworldwide.com/index.html

Has this been an ongoing part of your business model or is this something new? How did you start?
We’re just starting out; found a space in the market that businesses were not servicing. The competencies gained from teaching kids and teens in a rock-school style setting are the same competencies that are used to teach adults.

We find clients by talking to the managers and see what their needs are. Making music in bands is about working in teams, problem solving, lowering stress, and having fun.

You worked with Microsoft. Were they a bunch of programmers with no music skills? Were they receptive?
About eight  out of 20 had picked up an instrument before…they were a very receptive group. Mostly from the accounts team, so quiet mice at first, but rock Gods by the end of the course.

You introduce a lot of people to music both through your corporate training and your courses for young people. Are you working with any musical instrument brands right now?
Nothing that we get endorsed through at the moment, but we’re open to offers.

Can you give me an idea of how a corporate training goes?
Breaking up the drums, three backup singers, two guitars. Start with icebreakers, then we split the bands and assign each band a tutor, then the process of choosing the right song, then rehearsals, finally the gig. We can have between 3 – 10 in one band. Beginners to advanced. Open tune guitars for easy playing. Others can design concert posters, manage the band, costume design etc. Training can take place at their headquarters or at music venues (because they are playing a show at the end). The training can last one day or a week?

You take them from point A to point B; can you define these points?
Some people have no musical background, participants get a list of three songs to play. They pick one or two; they are taught the songs. They perform them later that day. RAW relies on great teachers. Participants are sent documentation in advance (chords, lyrics, etc.). During the show teachers will help out and get them back on track.

How do get people playing quickly?
Drummers will learn a simple 4/4 beat, guitarists will play open chords if they don’t know how to play, keyboards hit one notes or simple chords, bass players 3 or 4 notes, it works out in the end. We choose songs that represent the group’s ability.

How do you get them feeling confident and having fun? What about self-esteem and nervousness?
We give some players wigs and sunglasses, not because we think that is how rock stars are supposed to look, but because it helps them to let go. Adults are more receptive to playing and less shy of failing than the kids who come to RAW.

Guitar-Products Manufacturers Expected to Contribute Over $350K to Guitar Education Program

New York, NY, May 1, 2013 – In preparation for the upcoming 2013 Teaching Guitar Workshops, the Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA), has called on its members to supply program attendees with instruments and accessories.

Every school music educator who trains at the Teaching Guitar Workshop will receive a guitar, method books, strings, guitar picks, tuners, capos, straps, strap buttons, software, magazine subscriptions, machine heads, guitar care kits, iPod apps, and other guitar products courtesy of the members of GAMA. Sampling these products enables the Workshop attendees to learn and why playing and teaching guitar is such a dynamic and rewarding experience.

In 2012, in-kind contributions of guitars, books, and accessories from GAMA members had a total retail value of over $300,000. Because the number of Workshop sites will increase this year, it is expected that in-kind donations for the 2013 program will be worth over $350,000.

“We are thrilled to be part of GAMA’s Teaching Guitar Workshop program,” commented Janet Godin, of Godin Guitars. “Our annual contribution of guitars goes a long way in getting more students involved in school music programs. Each year’s contribution has the ripple effect of getting thousands of students learning guitar in the schools and creating thousands of new guitar players along the way.”

For guitar companies, the Teaching Guitar Workshops program is a grassroots promotional opportunity that helps firms build brand equity and gain loyal customers. In addition, with the Workshops located in nine cities around the United States and Canada, GAMA is attempting to maximize the education community’s exposure to classroom-guitar programs.

Download the Press Release:GAMA Product Contributions 2013

Introducing the Women’s International Music Network
Uniting Women in the Music and Audio Industries

The Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN) is a new organization that connects women within the music and audio industries. Its goal is to shine a spotlight on role models and encourage other girls and women to think of this industry as a possible career choice. 

WiMN’s events encourage and nurture women of all ages and talent levels. We are working on discussing this issue in an international forum. Response has been extremely positive!Founded in 2012 by veteran music and audio industry marketer Laura B. Whitmore (pictured), the WiMN produces events such as the Women’s Music Summit and She Rocks Awards. With theWiMN.com as its hub, the organization shares news and events while providing a community for a broader group of female industry professionals and performers.

Taking place at the 2013 NAMM Show, the first annual She Rocks Awards spotlighted female industry leaders such as Grammy-winning songwriter Holly Knight, Tish Ciravolo of Daisy Rock Guitars, Mary Peavey of Peavey Electronics, Laura Taylor of Guitar Center and others. It closed out with a rollicking live performance from guitarist Orianthi (another a She Rocks Award recipient). The Women’s Music Summit, another event produced by the WiMN, is a 3-day music conference that brings together women of all ages and instruments with artist instructors and industry experts. The 2012 Summit featured artists like Meshel Ndegeocello, Marnie Stern, Melisa Auf der Maur and Malina Moye, and garnered headlines in the Boston Globe, Village Voice, Billobard, Guitar World, American Songwriter and many others.

Going forward, the WiMN plans to increase its exposure and audience via theWiMN.com, which is now a premier source for female-related news in the music community. WiMN has a monthly newsletter, they partner with other organizations, are very active in social media, host live events….and they are very talkative.

The organization’s latest event is the WiMN ASCAP “You Are Next” Showcase, set to take place on April 18 at the ASCAP Expo in Los Angeles, and featuring some of the best up-and-coming female songwriters. Also on the horizon is the 2013 Women’s Music Summit, taking place at Musicians Institute in Hollywood from July 26 – 28. Featuring Michael Jackson guitar legend Jennifer Batten, American Idol saxophonist Mindi Abair, award-winning pianist/composer Starr Parodi and more, this year’s Summit is set to be bigger and better than ever.

Learn more about the Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN) at the www.WiMN.com, where you can also sign up for their newsletter.

New York, NY, April 1, 2013 – The Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA) recently awarded a special grant to Guitars in the Classroom (GITC) for 2013. The funds will be used: to build grant-writing capacity, to develop new curriculum, and to continue work on a new earned-income model.

GAMA’s grants to GITC have traditionally supported long-term and sustainable goals. GITC has used the GAMA’s funds to build new relationships, find new funding streams, and to test new concepts that aim to put the organization on a sustainable track.

GAMA has worked with GITC in its mission to train general classroom teachers to integrate music and music making across the academic curriculum since 2001. “GAMA is proud of its long partnership with GITC,” said Rob Sulkow, Executive Director of GAMA. “The organization cultivates music awareness in innovative ways and adds value to the guitar industry.”

“GAMA’s leadership and generosity continue to inform and strengthen the work of Guitars in the Classroom,” explains GITC founder and executive director, Jessica Baron. “Together we are building a new bridge between music educators and classroom teachers so they can join hands and work together to bring the full benefit of music education and music integration into schools around the country. Children thrive academically, socially and emotionally when they receive musical training as both an artistic medium and a modality for learning across the curriculum and bonding with their teachers and peers. We at Guitars in the Classroom are immensely grateful to GAMA for sharing this vision and working with us toward achieving it.”

In recent years, numerous GAMA-member firms signed on as sponsors of GITC and served as Board members for GITC. “The D’Addario Foundation has been a proud supporter of Guitars in the Classroom since its inception and, in recent years, I have had the opportunity to serve on their board of directors,” said Peter D’Addario of D’Addario & Co. “With a small budget and tremendous, mostly, volunteer workforce, GITC exposes thousands of children each year to instruction through music by putting guitars in the hands of classroom teachers. GITC and GAMAs missions are similar and both serve to grow the community of guitar players and instructors.”

Download the Press Release:_GITC_Funding

Notes
History
- Teaching Guitar Workshops was created by members of GAMA, NAMM, and NAfME in an effort to create a foothold for guitar in schools. The program was piloted in 1995 with three sites for 71 school music educators. Today, over 3,200 school music educators have atttended Teaching Guitar Workshops.

Operations
- NAfME is a music educator association with 40,000 members. NAfME provides a valuable channel to reach out to school music educators. All TGW attendees must be NAfME members.
- GAMA provides guitars, books, and accessories to the TGW attendees. In 2010, 327 teachers attended TGW. Over 300 guitars, more than 3000 books, thousands of strings, hundreds of tuners, straps, capos, and picks were shipped in the U.S. and Canada.
- Duquesne University provides graduate credits to TGW attendees. The credits help teachers become re-certified.
- GAMA, NAMM and firms such as AIMM, Guitar Center, and Sam Ash have sponsored TGW to the tune of $1.83 million since 1995. Without these funds, the program would not run.

Student Impact
GAMA estimates that over 1.28 million students have received guitar instruction because of the Teaching Guitar Workshops and 140,000 more students will receive training during the 2013 – 14 school year.
- 92.5% of the teachers said that their students wish to continue playing guitar
- 96.25% of the teachers said that their students were engaged.
- 82.5% said that guitar class attracts, so-called, “at-risk” kids.

Teacher Impact
- 96.25% of the teachers who taught in 2011 – 12 said that they reached students who were not previously involved in school music.
- 92.5% of teachers say that the administration supports and approves of their program.

Guitar Industry Impact
GAMA is a trade association whose activities are designed to grow the market for guitar products.

According to GAMA’s 2011 research, the average GAMA-trained teacher taught 65 kids per year. Each year, we factor in attrition to the ranks of our teachers, but the remaining teachers move on to teach another 65 students/year. So, since 1995 we still have some of our original teachers teaching. All this means that GAMA still derives value from the investment it made in 1995 and every year since.

GAMA estimates that, between student and school spending, the program has influenced over $167M in sales of guitar products (a 9100 percent return on investment). In 2011, TGW-related spending represented one cent of every dollar in revenues in the U.S. guitar industry.

GAMA has effectively taught over 1.28M children how to play guitar. In the next five years, if GAMA acts aggressively, that number will climb to over 2M students! Those numbers can increase provided there is investment; conversely, those numbers will fall if GAMA does not continue to teach more teachers.

Guitar Industry Impact II
Don H trained at the Teaching Guitar Workshops. The only prerequisite for his guitar class is that students must have a guitar at home so that they can practice. If we place a $100 price tag on each of those guitars, Don is generating $10,000 for the guitar industry every year that he teaches.

Guitar Industry Impact III
GHS Strings worked with Greg B, a local school music teacher, to help him attend a Teaching Guitar Workshop. Greg’s program took off; kids line up to take his guitar class. His program is helping kids learn music and help deliver economic value to local businesses.

The Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA) recently launched an updated www.guitaredunet.org website for classroom-guitar teachers. The new site features blogs, articles, tips & tricks and also GAMA member content.

The website aims to complement GAMA’s successful Teaching Guitar Workshops program through which it trains school music educators to start classroom-guitar programs. The site is intended to help teachers be even more successful at teaching guitar. Early tests of the site indicate that teachers are hungry for resources that help them enhance their guitar programs.

GAMA decided to launch a more comprehensive site in order to give teachers year-round access to information and tools to make their careers better. GAMA has trained over 3000 teachers, who have taught guitar to 1.28 million students. By giving these teachers more resources they will be empowered to have an even greater impact.

“Our metrics show us the site is popular with teachers.”, said Robert Sulkow, GAMA’s Executive Director. “Our teachers came to us and said that they wanted more resources; GAMA responded by putting a wealth of knowledge at their finger tips. In addition, teachers who are curious about teaching guitar can now get an idea of what is involved. All this adds up to more people making music with guitars and more shared value.”

Future plans for the website include more content and audience development, specifically: video footage, more blogging, success stories, and GAMA member integration.

Download the Press Release: GAMA_Press Release_New GuitarEduNet

Company: Sonoma Wire Works (SWW)

SWW started out as software developers focusing on music making tools, now you have a suite of smart phone apps. Can you discuss the trend?
When the iPhone was released, it was a complete game changer. For the first time, people carried in their pocket a small yet powerful computer, complete with a gorgeous touch interface. We knew that mobile music production was the future and immediately started work on FourTrack, our multitrack recording app for iPhone and iPod touch. While laptops provide a measure of portability, they are still expensive and can be cumbersome to use. Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets give musicians the ultimate freedom to write and record music wherever and whenever inspiration strikes. These relatively inexpensive devices are maturing at an incredibly rate and along with the hardware, so has the software. With FourTrack for the iPhone, StudioTrack for the iPad, and our GuitarJack iOS audio interface, we have kept pace with these amazing developments, and have given musicians powerful tools to push mobile music production forward.

You have partnered/collaborated with guitar companies in developing products and bringing new products to market. Can you talk about how those relationships developed?
Sonoma Wire Works has worked hard to earn a reputation of creating quality music making tools that are not overly complicated. The fantastic folks at Taylor Guitars were already familiar with our award winning RiffWorks software. When the time came for Taylor Guitars to have a presence on iOS, they approached us with some  key requirements: the app had to be easy to use but sound amazing. After a few months of hard work with the Taylor Guitars team, we released TaylorEQ, an equalizer app that brings out the best tone of your Taylor acoustic guitar. The partnership between Taylor Guitars and Sonoma Wire Works was really a no-brainer, both companies are committed to making quality products without any gimmicks or fluff. We have found that staying true to this commitment and maintaining integrity as a brand has attracted the attention of a wide range of esteemed partners, both domestically and internationally.

How can guitar and guitar products companies find synergies with app companies?
First of all, they don’t need to be afraid of technology. A four or five inch touch screen will never replace the pleasure of holding and playing a beautiful guitar. Also, the top selling guitar apps tend to be tablature apps, tuners, and theory apps, software designed to be used with guitars.

Guitar and guitar accessory manufacturers need to be open minded and put the user first. Powerful mobile devices are capable of almost anything, can they be used in some way to improve or augment the users’ experience with your product?

There are virtually no limits to the ways software and hardware products can work together, but manufacturers need to be careful not to create something simply for the sake of creating. As with any good product, it should fulfill a purpose or need.

Your company is in Northern California, the heartland of U.S. tech. Where do you see things going in terms of tech and how will this impact musical instrument firms?
More and more, tech companies are seeing audio as a crucial part of their devices’ success in the market. There’s no other way to say it, music is sexy, and high quality audio can tremendously affect a device’s appeal. It seems like almost every ad for smartphones includes music performance in some way. Audio is becoming as important as graphics in the design stage, and audio apps and accessories are pulling in huge profits. All of this is good news for musicians and musical instrument manufacturers. These devices are not replacing guitars, as some have feared, but are being seen as the ultimate guitar accessory. The trick is figuring out new and interesting ways of using these devices with musical instruments.

In what other ways do you see technology changing the way that people make music?
It’s a really exciting time for music. The hardware and software is getting more and more powerful while costs are going down. Making great sounding tracks is no longer limited to those who can afford expensive studio time or a pricey desktop rig. Now, a kid in his or her bedroom can create a track that rivals the quality of something recorded in a multi-million dollar studio a few years ago. More and more talented artists are able to make quality recordings and share them with a global audience. Additionally, people in more parts of the world are using these devices. We’re hearing incredible music from more parts of the globe all due to powerful mobile devices.

Sonoma Wire Works: Company Overview: Sonoma Wire Works was founded in 2003 by three engineers from music industry engineering backgrounds at companies like Diamond Multimedia, Be, Bias and others. RiffWorks guitar recording software with InstantDrummer and effects was Sonoma’s first product, to which we added online collaboration, the RiffWorld.com song posting community, and more. Starting in 2008, Sonoma branched out into iOS audio app and accessory development by launching FourTrack, which was successful and inspired us to create StudioTrack for iPad, InstantDrummer apps, AudioCopy and AudioPaste technology for iOS and GuitarTone amps and effects for iOS. In 2009, we had the opportunity to purchase highly acclaimed drum recording software and content resources by acquiring the DrumCore plug-in drum instrument brand and product line from Paul Allen’s Submersible Music Inc. and the Discrete Drums brand and product line. We were  often asked for best way to capture guitar recording on iOS, so Sonoma developed the GuitarJack audio interface for iPhone/iPad/iPod touch that features impeccable sound quality thanks to Joe Bryan, known for his work on the UA 2192 by Universal Audio. Most recently, Sonoma developed a low latency audio (LLA) solution for Android that can broaden the device options for mobile music production. We have plans for improving our existing product lines as well as some new products plans, so we are excited for the future!

Just two things worried Matt….

“1. I have a new batch of students – so these kids have only played sinced Jan. 2. Our concert is kind of basic. Although…I did bring back two students from last semester to be featured soloist on a couple of songs. Kind of stacking the deck….but I’ll use their performance with us to help introduce improvisation. Once this semester’s students get to see these past student improvise solos…they will be curious to learn how to do the same. It works out well.

“2. I have twice as many students as I’ve ever had. So I’m loading a bus with 52 middle school guitar players. They’re a wonderful group of kids…but whenever they outnumber me 52:1 I get a little nervous. We’ll have a great time though!”

What is Guitars Not Guns? How did it get started?
Guitars Not Guns (GnG) was founded in San Jose California in July 2000 by Ray and Louise Nelson. Ray was a lifelong musician; Louise worked for the California Department of Family Services. When Ray stopped traveling they became foster parents. It was their experience with foster children that lead them to start GnG; they saw the need for more opportunity for these kids. We are an all volunteer organization currently operating in 14 states, the District of Columbia and Canada – www.guitarsnotguns.org.

The National Capital Area (NCA) affiliate opened in Virginia in March 2006 as a memorial to Aaron Brown; an 18 year old North Springfield resident (Eagle Scout and guitar player) who was tragically shot to death February 25, 2006. In 2009 Guitars Not Guns of the National Capital Area (GnG NCA) expanded into DC and the neighboring counties in Maryland – www.gngnca.org.

What is the scope of your organization?
Guitars not Guns and GnG NCA are now equal in size. GnG NCA has 34 class locations and serves over 350 youth annually; we’ve served over 1,000 youth to date:
·53% are African American,
·25% Hispanic,
·13% Caucasian,
·8% Asian and
·1% mixed;

·55% boys and 45% girls;
·61% middle school and 39% high school age.

90% of our students are from low income households; the other 10% are at-risk youth who have problems at school or with law enforcement. Our teaching staff includes both adults and high school students who play guitar. We partner with community centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, special education schools, low income housing providers, foster care group homes and other nonprofit and government organizations serving the same demographic to ensure we are effectively addressing the need and to avoid any duplication of effort. We are also community based. Other nonprofits address music education in our schools; we are after those youth who for a variety of reason are not engaged in the opportunities at school.

What is the mission of GNG?
Our mission is to enable youth challenged by adverse circumstances – poverty, dysfunctional families, distressed neighborhoods – to succeed and become productive, caring and responsible members of society. We are a prevention program; we help prevent youth born into poverty from becoming adults living in poverty. We do this by providing them an after-school music and mentoring program in their communities. Our program teaches them about the benefits of a music education and music related career opportunities; and provides them the opportunity to learn how to play guitar. We offer both Beginner and Intermediate class sessions continuously throughout the school year. Learning music and how to play an instrument has both social and academic benefits; it instills discipline, builds confidence and self-esteem and it’s important to one’s cognitive development. Youth involved in quality music programs tend to do better in school; score higher on standardized tests; and be less inclined to engage in risky behavior.

Our classes run throughout the school year. Lessons are 1 hour per week. Each student is loaned a guitar; when they complete the program they are awarded that guitar to keep. Students who complete the program are encouraged to continue. They have the opportunity to learn more as well as help the new students entering our program. GnG NCA purchases about 300 hundred guitars, gig bags and music books as well as other related accessories annually; GnG purchase about the same as well.

How does the program affect kids?
Our short-term outcomes are increased awareness of the skills and discipline required to learn how to play an instrument; increased demonstration of basic guitar skills; increased awareness of music industry career opportunities; increased confidence; and students experience positive relationship/role-modeling with adults and older youth. Our long-term outcomes include increased academic achievement; increased self-esteem; increased understanding of potential career opportunities; and increased understanding and respect of individuals from different ethnic/social/racial backgrounds. To date we have recorded the following changes in our students.
62% pass the beginner’s class within one year;
36% continue with intermediate instruction and teaching new students;
87% show improved social interaction across gender and racial lines;
73% demonstrate improved confidence and interest in learning; and
54% are performing better in school.

Those are great results. You have already garnered a lot of support and some support from GAMA members; can you tell us more?
Guitars Not Guns Music Program has earned widespread recognition and support in the communities we serve. The value of our program has been recognized by both local governments and music organizations; our board includes experienced music educators; and we coordinate with accredited organizations like George Mason University’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts, George Mason University’s Nonprofit Management School, the Potomac Arts Academy, National Association for Music Education and NAMM to promote music and arts in the community and to ensure the quality of our curriculum. We are supported by several major manufactures of music equipment including Gibson, Fender, Saint Blues and Brazen Guitars; Wittner; FJH Music and Aurora Strings; by local clubs like Rotary International and Kiwanis; we are members in United Way, the Combined Federal, World Bank and Commonwealth of Virginia Campaigns.

We are both in the business of getting guitars into the hands of kids. Any other similarities or differences?
While GnG has not had a formal connection to GAMA we share a commitment to promote music education; it certainly makes sense that we should recognize one another as complementary organizations sharing a common objective.

GAMA and others are focused on keeping music education opportunities alive and well in our public schools; most of the focus is on early education in elementary and some middle schools. That’s certainly a worthy cause which I support but there is also another underserved population which deserves equal attention. Putting a music program into a school does not automatically equate to providing opportunity for low income students; and while early education is important it is not enough, the opportunities must remain through high school. Many low income students, particularly those in middle and high school, do not participate in school music programs or other electives; they tend to do only what’s mandatory and get out of the building as soon as possible; many don’t complete high school. There are many reasons for this; lack of confidence, self consciousness, lack of hope for a successful future, lack of resources to fully participate, peer pressure, etc. This is the demographic GnG is after. We want to give those kids the confidence and initiative to fully participate in school; we want them to receive a good education and become self sufficient in life. Music education is the vehicle we use to get these kids on a path for success.

I know that we have at least one teacher in common.
(GAMA’s) Teaching Guitar Workshops trained Scott Gosline how to set up and run a guitar program at his school. Scott came away with the skills and passion but the school did not have the resources to implement one. Instilled with the passion, Scott reached out to GnG NCA for those resources and the program became a reality. The value of your program was not just training Scott; it was also inspiring him to get creative and make it happen. Your story should not just be about who you trained and what they did; it should also include how your efforts are enabling relationships with organizations like ours who are also furthering the same cause; you’re not only training music educators, you’re enabling them to leverage other assets which can be employed to further your goal.

Where do you see GnG in 5 years?
In 5 years we envision a GnG with much greater brand recognition and triple the student capacity that we have today. In 2010 we began an initiative to transition from an all volunteer, local grassroots type organization to one that has national recognition and relevance; GnG NCA is taking the lead on this initiative. Our all volunteer model served us well to get started but it is limiting our growth rate; we’re not able to recruit administrative volunteers in sufficient numbers to keep pace with the opportunities and number of teacher volunteers that are available. Since 2010 we have been steadily increasing both the breadth and depth of our fundraising base; we are now at the point where we can afford to pay some administrative staff. Over the next 5 years we will use this administrative capability to significantly expand our student capacity.

Can you give us a case study from GNG?
Mark (name changed) was constantly in trouble in school and with the law; the court sent him to a boarding school for troubled youth as a last chance before jail. GnG is the music program at that school. Mark signed up for our music program that summer. His attendance record was a spotty; he didn’t focus on what was being taught. He had a very large chip on his shoulder and was more interested in causing disturbances than learning about the guitar. We were patient with him and he continued with our program; the following spring he finally passed our beginner’s class and earned his guitar; that success was the turning point for him.

During the intermediate program sessions Mark’s attitude changed significantly. He was attentive and acted very interested in learning all about the guitar; one could not have asked for a more attentive, energetic student. He practice daily and was anxious to expand his new found expertise. He was like a sponge—he just couldn’t absorb enough information. By the time he
finished the intermediate program Mark had gone from a kid who could not form a simple D chord to a skilled beginning blues guitarist playing 9th chords (rhythm) and two modes of the pentatonic scales (lead). What a transformation!

Mark successfully completed the boarding school curriculum and enrolled in college in downstate Virginia. He joined a band and continues to learn everything he can about music in general and the guitar in particular.

Following is a letter from a mother serving on the Fort Belvoir Army Base in Northern Virginia; her son participated in a Guitars Not Guns class at the base Youth Center.

“As a parent of a child who is currently in enrolled in one of the “Guitars Not Guns” programs in Virginia, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you and your organization. This program has given my son a unique opportunity to not only learn guitar, but develop a skill that is building his self esteem. This year has been a particular struggle for us in that my son has had 2 surgeries that have kept him on crutches for a long period of time. Guitars Not Guns has been a terrific outlet that has allowed him to stay active as he has faced physical challenges…….. In closing I would also like to share how much I appreciate the insight you have to offer this class on a military installation. Although we are not currently dealing with deployment at this time, the memories are fresh enough to emphasis how this program brings a much needed positive experience to children in the thick of deployment. Thank you for reaching out to a group of kids that greatly need positive learning opportunities and mentorship! I can only imagine how “cool” it would be for a teen to be able to share their new skills they’ve learned to a returning parent…or even over the internet with a web-cam!”

Skip Chaples (skip@guitarsnotguns.org), President
Guitars Not Guns (National Capital Area) www.gngnca.org

The members of the Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA) elected a new Board of Directors during the GAMA annual membership meeting in January at the NAMM show.

In this historic election, eight Board members were appointed. Previously, the ByLaws of the organization stipulated that the number of Board members should be seven. A change to the ByLaws, that was adopted at the aforementioned membership meeting, allowed the group to elect as many as eleven Board members.

David Lusterman, the incoming President of GAMA noted, “Savvy guitar industry members know that the best way to grow the market is through collaboration and that GAMA is leading the way in this area. Several key company leaders have recently stepped up to join GAMA’s Board of Directors, and our industry is fortunate to have them working closely with our more seasoned board members in 2013.

“This year, GAMA will focus its efforts on providing great service to its member companies, continuing its hugely successful Teaching Guitar Workshop program, and exploring many other avenues for supporting and sustaining guitar education in schools, retail stores, community programs, and everywhere that music is learned.”

The Board members of the GAMA Board for 2013 are:
David Lusterman – President (String Letter Publishing)
Peter D’Addario – Vice President (D’Addario & Co.)
Brad Smith – Treasurer (Hal Leonard)
Joe Castronovo – Secretary (Korg USA)
Skip Beltz – Director (CF Martin & Co.)
Russ McFee – Director (GHS Strings)
Andy Rossi – Director (Fender Musical Instruments)
Bob Taylor – Director (Taylor Guitars)

Download the Press Release: GAMA_Press Release_New_Board