SAN DIEGO — A San Diego woman's free music program is making learning fun from coast to coast.
In this Zevely Zone, I headed to Skyline Hills to profile the non-profit organization 'Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom'.
The program has expanded its music education program across the United States by enhancing learning through creative music integration.
At Freese Arts & Culture Elementary School students are learning literacy, science and math while playing music.
"If kids can learn how to strum down, they can play about 50 different songs, ABCD, twinkle, twinkle, row, row, row your boat," said Desiree Robles. Since introducing ukuleles, the kindergarten teacher has seen her students learn quicker and have more fun doing it.
"Vowels are hard for kindergarteners, especially short vowel long vowels but when we teach it in a song it creates a hook in their brain that they don't let go of," said Ms. Robles who not only teaches students how to play but fellow educators K through 12.
How many teachers have been trained to share this free program?
"Over 18,000," said Jess Baron. She founded the non-profit called Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom 23 years ago. "Music is what I am on the planet to do," said Jess.
Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom has a rich history of integrating music seamlessly into various subjects.
Through careful teacher training, the organization has empowered educators to use music as a tool for fostering communication, team building, enhancing early literacy, mathematics, and social-emotional development.
A quarter of million students have enjoyed the free program, including the underserved community of Skyline Hills.
"We are a Title One school with over 80 percent of our students qualifying for free and reduced lunch," said school principal Dr. Shannon Bussey who feels arts and culture should be available to every student.
We asked if the program would be offered on her campus if it were not free.
"No, most likely not," said Dr. Bussey.
Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom's approach is not about replacing traditional music education but complementing it. The organization's efforts are designed to broaden the spectrum of learning experiences by infusing music into the existing curriculum.
"Give them music for every child, leave no child excluded from music ever no matter what people say about them they are musical people," said Jess. "Our aim is to seamlessly weave music into the daily fabric of classroom learning. By providing teachers with the skills to use music as a powerful tool to enhance the educational journey for students, we offer a fresh perspective on using music for other purposes, allowing students to explore creative pathways through guitar, ukulele, and songwriting."
The program is funded by grants and donations. For more information about their approach and impact, click here.