Guitars In Classroom
Guitars In The Classroom (GITC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains K-12, early childhood, and special education educators to integrate guitar, ukulele, singing, and songwriting into inclusive classroom instruction, reaching over 260,000 students annually across 40 states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Guitars In Classroom does
Guitars In The Classroom (GITC, DBA: Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in San Diego, California, founded in 2000 by Jess Baron. The organization trains and equips K-12 teachers, early childhood educators, special education specialists, and school administrators to integrate guitar, ukulele, singing, and songwriting into inclusive classroom instruction, operating on the principle that musical participation strengthens literacy, math, social-emotional learning, and belonging. Its core technology is a proprietary Developmental Music Teaching Method delivered via a virtual professional development platform and in-person teaching artist residencies, with auxiliary modalities including adaptive music for medically isolated and neurodiverse learners, early childhood educator training, and after-school Strummers Clubs in Title I schools in San Diego and Los Angeles.
The organization has trained over 19,000 educators across 40 states since inception and reports reaching more than 260,000 students annually. GITC operates a donor- and grant-funded model with all programs provided free of charge to participating educators and students. Revenue is sourced from foundation grants (NAMM Foundation, Picerne Family Foundation, San Diego Women's Foundation, California Arts Council, Cushman Foundation), individual donations, corporate and community giving (including in-kind instrument contributions from Guitar Center Music Foundation, Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation, and West Music), and affiliate partnerships (e.g., Acoustic Coffee Company). In 2024, the organization reported a 67% year-over-year increase in teachers served and trained more than 2,100 K-12 educators and support staff across its full program portfolio.
Customer segments cluster around three use cases: general and special education K-12 teachers as the primary persona, students with special needs and medical conditions through adaptive music services, and early childhood educators (birth to five) via the dedicated ECE Initiative. Distribution is hybrid: self-serve virtual training globally plus high-touch classroom residencies and after-school programs concentrated in California. Recognition includes a NAMM Foundation grant award, GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, and Charity Navigator 4-Star rating.
Guitars In Classroom firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Guitars In Classroom
- Legal name
- Guitars In The Classroom
- Website
- https://guitarsintheclassroom.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Guitars In The Classroom (GITC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains K-12, early childhood, and special education educators to integrate guitar, ukulele, singing, and songwriting into inclusive classroom instruction, reaching over 260,000 students annually across 40 states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Guitars In Classroom industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Education Services
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online / Virtual Music Instruction & Platforms (EDAMANAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Music Theory, Ear Training & Musicianship (EDAMANAF), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)
Keywords
Where Guitars In Classroom is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Guitars In Classroom business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Grants: GITC receives grants from foundations including NAMM Foundation, San Diego Women's Foundation, California Arts Council, Cushman Foundation, and Picerne Family Foundation to fund specific programs such as early childhood education initiatives, adaptive music programs, and county-wide training programs.
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual supporters, with board matching programs for year-end campaigns. Donors contribute to general operations or specific programs like the Guitars from Andrew fund.
- Corporate and Community Giving: Corporate sponsorships, in-kind contributions, and community giving from businesses. Includes instrument donations from music industry partners and sponsors who cover instrument costs so teachers receive them free.
- Affiliate Partnerships: Partnerships with music retailers like West Music Store where GITC programs are listed, and affiliate arrangements such as Acoustic Coffee Company creating specialty blends with proceeds benefiting GITC.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free educator training programs including Total Beginner Uke course, 8-week professional development courses, and specialized workshops |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Guitars In Classroom product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom (GITC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains and equips educators to integrate guitar, ukulele, and singing into inclusive classroom learning. The organization delivers free virtual and in-person professional development courses, capacity-building classroom residencies with co-teaching artists, after-school Strummers Clubs, early childhood education programs, and adaptive music training for students with special needs and medical conditions. Programs are funded through foundation grants, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and affiliate partnerships, with instruments provided at no cost to participating classrooms.
Product overview
Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom (GITC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a unified educational program rather than a platform with modules. The core program trains educators to integrate music (ukulele, guitar, singing, and songwriting) into classroom teaching across all subjects. This core program is delivered through multiple connected service offerings: Training for Educators (professional development courses), Early Childhood Education (birth to age 5), Classroom Teaching Artist Residencies (co-teaching model), Adaptive Music for Inclusion (special needs), Music Educator Workshops, After School Strummers Clubs (direct student instruction), Summer Programs for Students, and the Guitars from Andrew Fund (instrument provision for teens).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom Program The unifying core program that empowers educators and students of all ages and abilities to make music through training in ukulele, guitar, singing, and songwriting to enhance learning across all subjects.
- Training for Educators Professional development courses that train education professionals to become capable and confident song leaders, teaching them to play ukulele, guitar, sing, and write songs for learning. Free virtual courses include Total Beginner Uke, 8-week PD courses, and specialized workshops on literacy, math, and SEL through music.
- Early Childhood Education Program Music training for early childhood educators serving children birth to five years old in family daycares, Head Start programs, childcare centers, and UTK classrooms. Includes in-person workshops in San Diego County and virtual training nationwide, funded by NAMM Foundation, San Diego Women's Foundation, California Arts Council, and Cushman Foundation.
- Classroom Teaching Artist Residencies Capacity-building co-teaching residencies in California where GITC teaching artists work alongside participating educators to help them learn to teach through music with their own students. Supported by school districts, individual schools, grants, and contributions.
- Adaptive Music for Inclusion Specialized training in adaptive music techniques for students with complex medical conditions, disabilities, or special needs including homebound and hospitalized children. Includes Circle of Care Music Residencies that engage parents, therapists, medical staff, and home hospital teachers in the musical learning experience.
- Music Educator Workshops Workshops for music educators and music specialists to integrate music across the curriculum and collaborate with classroom teachers. Includes master classes with accomplished artists.
- After School Strummers Clubs After-school guitar and ukulele clubs for students in San Diego and Los Angeles that provide direct music instruction for students whose teachers may not yet be trained in GITC methods. Students in Title I schools receive free instruments through donor support.
- Summer Programs for Students Summer music programs offering students opportunities to learn guitar, ukulele, and songwriting during school breaks.
- Guitars from Andrew Fund A special fund in partnership with the Andrew Triplett Memorial Foundation that awards deserving high school guitar students in Strummers Clubs with their own Forever Guitars and supplies.
Companies that use Guitars In Classroom
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Guitars In Classroom technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Guitars In Classroom partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- West Music StoreminorWest Music Store features GITC programs and merchandise, providing a retail channel for GITC-related products and visibility among music educators shopping for instruments and supplies.
- Guitar Center Music FoundationcoreProvides guitars for after-school guitar clubs and high school programs, enabling students to receive their own instruments to practice and continue playing after graduation.
- Martin Guitar Charitable FoundationcoreProvides acoustic guitars for continuation high school guitar programs in South Los Angeles and other GITC programs, ensuring students have access to quality instruments.
- Acoustic Coffee CompanyminorCreated two unique coffee blends in collaboration with GITC Artist Ambassadors Laurence Juber and Andy McKee, with a portion of proceeds benefiting GITC programs.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Guitars In Classroom competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Music Together: Early childhood music education program training parents and educators to deliver music classes to young children — closely comparable to GITC's Early Childhood Education Initiative for ages birth-to-five.
- Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: Nonprofit that donates musical instruments and supports music education programs in schools — comparable to GITC's instrument-provision and music-integration mission in K-12.
- VH1 Save The Music Foundation: Foundation that donates instruments and music education resources to schools nationwide; overlaps with GITC's mission of expanding in-school music access for under-resourced communities.
- Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock): National nonprofit providing free music education, instruments, and teacher training to K-12 schools with a focus on modern band and inclusive instruction — the closest direct comparator to GITC's teacher training and instrument provision model.
- Berklee City Music Network: Network of nonprofit music education programs serving youth in underserved communities, offering free instruction — shares GITC's mission of providing free music learning to students with limited access.
- The Harmony Project: Nonprofit providing free music instruction to students in low-income communities — directly comparable to GITC's after-school Strummers Clubs serving Title I schools.
Broad incumbents
- Suzuki Association of the Americas: Organization supporting Suzuki method music instruction across the Americas, including teacher training — comparable to GITC's teacher training focus but using a more traditional method-pedagogy approach.
- National Association for Music Education (NAfME): The largest professional association for music educators in the US — overlaps with GITC's educator training focus but operates as an advocacy/membership body rather than a direct service provider.
- Carnegie Hall's Musical Connections: Carnegie Hall's social impact programs serving incarcerated, hospitalized, and immigrant populations through music — comparable to GITC's adaptive music work with homebound/hospitalized students.
Regional players
- Los Angeles Philharmonic YOLA: LA Phil's Youth Orchestra Los Angeles program providing free instruments and music instruction to LA-area youth — directly comparable to GITC's LA Strummers Clubs but anchored in classical orchestral training.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Guitars In Classroom social profiles
Digital presenceGuitars In Classroom financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Guitars In Classroom leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Guitars In Classroom funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Guitars In Classroom M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Guitars In Classroom
What does Guitars In Classroom do?
Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom (GITC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains and equips educators to integrate guitar, ukulele, and singing into inclusive classroom learning. The organization delivers free virtual and in-person professional development courses, capacity-building classroom residencies with co-teaching artists, after-school Strummers Clubs, early childhood education programs, and adaptive music training for students with special needs and medical conditions. Programs are funded through foundation grants, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and affiliate partnerships, with instruments provided at no cost to participating classrooms.
Is Guitars In Classroom a public or private company?
Guitars In Classroom is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Guitars In Classroom founded?
Guitars In Classroom was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Guitars In Classroom based?
Guitars In Classroom is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Guitars In Classroom make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Foundation Grants are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations, corporate and Community Giving and affiliate Partnerships.
Who are Guitars In Classroom's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Music Together, Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, VH1 Save The Music Foundation, Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock), Berklee City Music Network and The Harmony Project. Broad incumbents are Suzuki Association of the Americas, National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and Carnegie Hall's Musical Connections. Los Angeles Philharmonic YOLA is listed as a regional player.
Does Guitars In Classroom have an API?
No public API is recorded for Guitars In Classroom.
What industry is Guitars In Classroom in?
Guitars In Classroom's product category is Music Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMANAI, Online / Virtual Music Instruction & Platforms, with a secondary code of EDAMAAAE, Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal). Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 8200.