That's what the News Transcript published in its article about the TGF's visit to West Freehold School. At the school, the team of Rachel Lorin and founder Damon Marks gave the third, fourth and fifth graders a concert they won't soon forget. The foundation also donated three Schechter electric guitards, one Schechter acoustic guitar, four Mogami cables and one Ludwig electric drum kit as well as the TGF guitar instruction curriculum.
Read the News Transcript article below for more quotes from TGF founder and enthusiastic school personnel.
The Traveling Guitar Foundation visited Colts Neck High School on Friday, May 29th. Professional musician and TGF founder Damon Marks was accompanied by Rachel Lorin of Oxygen's "The Next Big Thing" to perform for the students at Colts Neck. The visit was organized by the school's business teacher Cindy Bravaco. Ms. Bravaco said, "We decided this would work for what we're trying to do here, because we're just trying to motivate the kids a little more to get involved in music. We're hoping that after this they get the feeling that this is an awesome thing to get involved in." Colts Neck principal, Dan Simon, added, "There's so much untapped talent here, because we're not seeing them get involved with the chorus or band. The group that we have does a great job, so why aren't we getting more kids on board? This (event) is part of what we hope gets more kids involved." Marks and Lorin performed familiar rock songs in the hope of reinforcing the value of music from an angle that is different than the genres usually associated with school bands and choruses. Marks also donated Schechter Guitars to the school in the hopes of getting more kids to experiment with and enjoy music.
The Traveling Guitar foundation is proud to announce our partnership with the prestigious law firm of Pryor Cashman. @PryorCashmanLLP This partnership will only enhance our foundation's mission which provides FREE musical equipment and support for school systems across the United States that are struggling to finance their music education programs.
Read this article in the New York Daily News about David Tyree coming out to an event to support the Traveling Guitar Foundation on Saturday, May 2nd. Read the article to learn more about Tyree's connection to music and when you can see this great football player giving back to a great cause. Thanks David!
Traveling Guitar Foundation visited Theodore Schor Middle School in Piscataway, NJ last Friday, April 17th. Damon Marks, founder and executive director, was joined by singer Rachel Lorin in the latest of the Spring tour of performances at schools in the NY/NJ area. TGF visits schools that have had to eliminate music education due to shrinking budgets for music programs.
The performance was enjoyable and educational for the kids. Some of the children volunteered to perform on stage as well. Marks performed a variety of musical genres to illustrate the diversity and possibility of music.
"It has been proven that music helps children's intellectual, social and creative skills," Marks said. "I grew up in the '80s. There was much more interaction between people. We played outside. We did things together — including music. Now, kids are always using technology or on their phones. There seem to be more mental issues. Music is a great way to socialize and help with any issues, including mental. Music is one part of education that benefits the kids." TGF thanks Theodore Schor Middle School for the opportunity to share the love of music with the kids. Thanks also to the sponsors who support TGF in its mission.
MyCentralNJ.com published an excellent article on the Traveling Guitar Foundation yesterday. The article profiles our executive director and the foundation's mission and work.
Marks and TGF went to Theodore Schor Middle School in Piscataway this past Friday as part of the Spring schedule. They performed music of different genres and fulfilled a wish list of musical equipment from the school.
See pictures and read more about the foundation here.
Traveling Guitar Foundation is excited to announce that NFL superstar David Tyree, former player for the New York Giants is joining our own Damon Marks for an event on May 2nd. Tyree made the famous 2008 Super Bowl XLII Helmet Catch and has returned to the Giants as a staffer. Tyree and Marks will be at the opening of Master Park's Black Belt America newest location. This special celebration event is in support of the Traveling Guitar Foundation's work to provide music education clinics and instruments to students at schools where the art and music budgets have been eliminated.
The event runs from 10am to 2 pm. David Tyree will be available to sign autographs at 12 noon. TGF founder, Damon Marks will perform at 12 noon. The Mayor of
Morganville will also be in attendance.
The event will be at the Master Park's Black Belt America location at 280 Route 9 in Morganville, New Jersey. We hope to see you there!
The Traveling Guitar Foundation sends out a hearty welcome to the month of April!
First of all, we welcome April as it ushers in the great beauty of new life and warmer weather. Second, with April arrives the celebration of International Guitar Month.
International Guitar Month was started in April of 1987 as a marketing campaign to increase sales of guitar equipment. The promotion of the event was technically ended by the companies in 1996 but the month has became a non-commercial reminder to celebrate the magnificent instrument of the guitar.
So, pick up and strum your guitar, listen to other musicians, or turn up your favorite riffs on your device! Also, click below to see 10 Ways to Celebrate International International Guitar Month.
Here is a link to the Keeping up with Cool interview as they keep up with Damon Marks in his travels with the Traveling Guitar Foundation. It is from March 13th visit to New Heights Academy Charter School.
Do you believe the superstition that Friday the 13th is an unlucky date? For the students at New Heights Academy Charter School, Friday, March 13th was a fortunate day of music and celebration. About 300 students at the New York City high school were treated to a powerful music performance by the Traveling Guitar Foundation on Friday afternoon. TGF founder and rock guitarist Damon Marks was joined by musical performer Rachel Lorin at their school for a special program.
There was singing, dancing and lots of enthusiasm for the music presentation. The school received percussion and guitar equipment donated by TGF, based on their stated needs. TGF will continue to work with the school to make sure the equipment benefits the kids as continued music education aids them in their educational, artistic and social development. Every day we visit a school is a lucky day for TGF because we have the opportunity to continue fulfilling our mission, for the day of the visit and beyond.
Next school visit is planned for March 20th. Stay tuned...
The Traveling Guitar Foundation has announced six schools that are scheduled to have a visit, all within the next three months. Founder Damon Marks will be visiting the schools with enthusiasm for the kids and equipment for the schools. Three of the schools are in New Jersey and three are in New York City.
The first date is this Friday, February 27, in Freehold, New Jersey. Mr. Marks emphasized the importance of this work, giving hands-on music education to kids who do not have music programs in their schools due to funding problems.
There is a seventh school that the Foundation would like to add to the schedule but is awaiting funding from the community. Marks said that funding sources are always changing so he must count on contributions from caring individuals in the community. If music has made a difference in your life, please consider making a donation to GoFundMe.
A few dollars can make the difference in a whole school of kids being inspired to have a better future.
After
years of success bringing music education into schools, The Traveling GuitarFoundationwith
support from Schecter Guitars is announcing six additional dates of school visits
in the Northeast.
"On behalf of Schecter Guitars, we would like to note that
the diminishing availability of music to children in our schools is saddening.
However, we do support and believe that given quality leadership and
instrumentation, music can most certainly assist in ones growth if not
completely alter one's life in positive ways. Damon Marks selfless
contributions and determination in providing these opportunities for children
has made it an honor for us to be a part of and we look forward to working with
him on these event and many more to come”, Schechter Guitars spokesperson
said.
Other important supporters include Guitar Center, Mesa Boogie
Amps, EMG pickups, Mogami Cable and Conn-Selmer.
The Traveling Guitar Foundationis an
all-volunteer, non-profit organization that receives its funding from the
generous donations of performing artists and corporate sponsors. These sponsors
and the members of the foundation are committed to the mission of making a
difference in children's lives through music.
Individual contributors are a very important part of making the
foundation succeed. If you feel that music is important and has impacted your
life in a positive way, consider making a tax-deductible donation to support
the work of the Traveling Guitar Foundation. You might change a life.
Please help us keep doing what we are doing, check out our GoFundMe page.
We are so excited that we have been joined by two new partners in our community.
The first new partner is Honor Yoga. Honor Yoga is offering a free month of yoga for $75 where they will donate the entire $75 to the Traveling Guitar Foundation (for the first three lucky people who register)! Honor Yoga is a sustainable community of healing in an environment of caring and love where they honor the mind, body and soul through the practice of yoga. Honor Yoga has beautiful, eco-friendly locations in Hamilton, Manalpan, Mansfield, Millstone and Pennington, NJ.
The second new partner is Master Park's Black Belt America, an affiliate of Shilla Warrior Martial Arts. Master Park's is offering a free 30-day trial with a donation to the Traveling Guitar Foundation of at least $75. There are three of these trial memberships available at each of the five locations of Master Park's, for a total of 15 memberships.
We thank our partners for their believing in the work of the Traveling Guitar Foundation. Because the Foundation is entirely volunteer where all funds go to provide free equipment and curriculum to schools in need, these partnerships help us to reach more children. Please consider joining us in our mission to make a difference in kids' lives through music education!
Click below to get more information on these two great partnerships!
Take a look at the video made by the Jerome Dunn Academy, a grantee of the The Traveling Guitar Foundation. The school made the video because they wanted everyone to know how our donations of Schecter C-6 Deluxe Electric Guitars and our proprietary TGF 8 to 9 week guitar curriculum made a difference for these young people. Thank you Jerome Dunn Academy for this wonderful testimonial. We hope to continue to help more schools benefit from our mission to provide FREE musical equipment and curriculum to schools in need.
Just as one of the kids asked, "Does this mean we're rock stars?" To which we answer, yes, yes, it does!
Testimonial Video: Please donate today to help us keep sharing the beauty and power of music with kids in ever more grantee schools.
It’s hard
to imagine a childhood without music. Imagine young schoolchildren
singing and dancing in a circle, giggling and exuding sheer joy. Music
helps children develop coordination, goal-setting and concentration. Plus,
there is a fully body of research showing that kids who are actively involved
in music are better at reading, math and science.
But many
schoolchildren today are not benefiting from music programs at school because
funding for music education has been eliminated from their budgets. Schools
have had to make hard choices and unfortunately, one of these choices has been
to eliminate their music and arts budget.
Enter Damon
Marks, a lifelong musician and New Jersey resident who is keenly aware of this
problem. Damon has been playing guitar since the age of ten and has
made a career as a professional guitarist. Damon recalls that music
helped him through tough times when he was a child. “It helped me
find my friends and get involved and ease the pain I was going through. If
I hadn’t found music, fellow band mates and fans, I might have found drugs or
alcohol or who knows what else. I want kids today to have that same
chance to connect to music in such a meaningful, creative way.”
Damon
decided to do something about the struggle schools have to keep music and
creative programs afloat. In 2010, he created the Traveling Guitar
Foundation to bring music back into schools with inadequate music
funding. Damon takes his show on the road to elementary, middle and
high schools where he performs and engages the children in his
performance. The program supplies schools with free guitars,
equipment and a curriculum that does not require musical training for any
teacher.
Damon
started by bringing his music program to New York City area schools, including
eight schools in Elizabeth, New Jersey where he attended school growing
up. To date, the Foundation has donated over 400 new guitars,
amplifiers, various types of percussion, instrument cables and a guitar learning curriculum to over 100 schools in the US and
abroad, positively impacting over 30,000 students.
The
Foundation is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that receives its
funding from the generous donations of performing artists and corporate
sponsors. These sponsors and the members of the foundation are
committed to the mission of making a difference in children’s lives through
music.
Individual contributors are a very important part of making the foundation succeed. If you feel that music is important and has impacted your life in a positive way, consider making a tax-deductible donation to support the work of the Traveling Guitar Foundation. You might change a life. Please visit:
